Barcelona closely following €25 million-rated Spanish defender playing in Premier League | OneFootball

Barcelona have made the signing of a new centre-back a top priority for the summer of 2026, with the club mostly looking at a left-footed player.

The departure of Inigo Martinez has left a gaping hole in the squad which the Catalans intend to fill with a new signing next year, despite Gerard Martin emerging as a solution in recent weeks.

Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund is a player that Barça admire and are interested in, but it appears that they have another target lined up as well.

Pau Torres on Barcelona’s radar

Indeed, according to Moi Llorens of ESPN, Barcelona are closely following Aston Villa and Spain defender Pau Torres as a possible target for next summer.

The 28-year-old centre-back has been on the Catalans’ radars for a while now, with the club exploring a deal for him before he ended up at Villa back in 2023 in a deal worth €40 million.

Barcelona admire the fact that Torres is adept at carrying the ball from the back, is left-footed, and can hold his own in aerial battles as well.

Pau Torres on Barcelona’s radars. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

As such, the reigning La Liga champions are tracking the former Villarreal star’s situation and could explore a move for him in 2026.

Torres, though, is a very important player for Unai Emery at Aston Villa, and signing him might not be easy, with his contract running until 2028.

However, Torres, who has played 18 games in all competitions this season, would be willing to listen to an offer to return to Spain if Barcelona push through with a serious proposal.

An experienced player in his prime, with knowledge of La Liga, and fitting the profile that Barcelona are looking for, Torres can be a shrewd addition for the Blaugrana.

Much will depend on the type of fee that Aston Villa seek for the Spanish international, considering that Barcelona’s transfer operations will be dictated by their Fair Play situation.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.