Tottenham now focused on £55m star after Bastoni snub

Tottenham want Pau Torres and are focusing their attention on the Villarreal defender with Alessandro Bastoni unavailable.

Tottenham already have Fraser Forster and Ivan Perisic signed up on free transfers in a positive start to the window.

Antonio Conte seems to want another left-sided centre back though, adding competition for Ben Davies.

Inter Milan star Bastoni has been Tottenham’s top target having previously worked together in Italy.

Yet Bastoni’s agent has now confirmed that he will be staying at Inter, leaving Tottenham to consider other targets.

The Daily Mail now claim that Tottenham are focused on signing Villarreal defender Torres with Bastoni off the market.

Torres has a £55million release clause in his contract but Tottenham are hoping that Giovani Lo Celso can be key to a deal.

Lo Celso spent the second half of the season on loan at Villarreal and made a big impression with Unai Emery’s side.

Villarreal want to keep Lo Celso and Tottenham are seeking a fee of around £18million for the Argentinian.

Tottenham will now hope to use Lo Celso to bring the price down for Torres in what could be a cunning move.

Torres, 25, is an elegant left-footed centre back and the ideal backup target behind Bastoni.

At 6ft 3in tall, Torres has the physicality for English football too and has picked up 18 caps for Spain.

The Spaniard was wanted by Tottenham last year but he rejected the offer to play in the Champions League with his hometown club Villarreal.

Villarreal and Torres ended up in the Champions League semi-finals, so you have to say that his decision was somewhat justified.

Tottenham are now back in for Torres once again and may be set to ramp up their interest in signing him after being unable to land Bastoni.