Torres set to complete £33m move to Villa next week

Pau Torres is expected to travel to the Midlands next week to complete an initial £33m move to Aston Villa.

The club agreed a deal with Villarreal over the weekend that also includes a number of potential bonus payments on top.

Torres is preparing to travel to the UK for a medical and reunite with his former manager Unai Emery, with whom he won the Europa League in 2021.

The Spain international has been coveted by a number of Premier League teams over the last few years and his signature is seen as somewhat of a coup for the club.

He is understood to have had a £60m (€70m) release clause in his contract but Villa were able to negotiate more favourable terms, and will pay the fee over the period of his contract.

Torres was in the Spain squad for the World Cup and made 39 appearances for Villarreal last season. He had one-year left on his deal.

Villa boss Emery is understood to have more influence over recruitment following his impressive impact on the team last season and the exit of chief executive Christian Purslow this summer.