Joshua Oha

Aston Villa have signed Spanish defender Pau Torres from Villarreal for £33 million.

The defender emerged as the club’s number-one defensive target this summer after another impressive session with the Yellow Submarines. 

And despite interest from other European clubs, the 26-year-old chose to move to Aston Villa, where he will work with his former boss Unai Emery.

Read more: Manor Solomon joins Tottenham on a free transfer

Torres becomes Villa’s second signing of the summer after the Midlands club signed Youri Tielemans from Leicester City for free.

With his addition to the squad, Villa now boasts an array of quality centre-backs. He joins Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Diego Carlos as centre-back options for Emery.

Villa had teased the long-awaited signing by posting a video of a player wearing the club’s new kit with the caption: “Good things come to those who wait.”

The club then posted the official reveal ushering in his arrival, saying: “Aston Villa is delighted to announce the signing of Spanish international Pau Torres from Villarreal!”

This is unlikely to be the end of Villa’s summer transfer activity, with the club targeting a wide forward as well as another midfielder and a striker.

Both Brennan Johnson and Harvey Barnes are on the radar though Forest will let Johnson go only if they receive about £50million

Tottenham Hotspur has confirmed the signing of Israeli forward Manor Solomon on a free transfer.

Solomon, whose contract at Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk expired in June, has agreed to join the Premier League side on a five-year deal following his fruitful loan spell at Fulham last campaign.

Read more: Manchester United prepared to offer Mason Greenwood to Atalanta on a loan

He becomes Spurs’ fourth major summer signing after the arrivals of James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario, and Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal.

Reacting to his move to North London, the Israeli said on Twitter:

“I’m so delighted and excited to be joining this fantastic football club.

“It’s truly an honour to be here, and I can’t wait to get started. To dare is to do!”

Solomon spent last season on loan at Fulham. He began his season-long stint at Craven Cottage with a serious knee injury but went on to chalk up 24 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals.

With Solomon joining, Ange Posteclogue will now focus on sorting out the future of wantaway striker Harry Kane.

The England international, with just one year left on his contract, is subject to two huge bids from Bayern Munich. He has communicated his desire to leave this summer. However, Tottenham’s chairman Daniel Levy is reluctant to sell him. 

Chelsea have emerged as one of the several clubs interested in signing Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.

The Blues are interested in signing a striker this summer after struggling for goals last season. They have already signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal but are open to further signings, having already sold Kai Harvetz to Arsenal this summer.

And now, according to Football Transfers, Chelsea have entered talks with Balogun over a summer move to Stamford Bridge.

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The 22-year-old has already told Arsenal he wants to leave permanently this summer unless he is guaranteed a place in the first team. He enjoyed a breakthrough campaign while on loan at Reims last season, scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals in 27 games.

His performances in France have attracted clubs from across Europe, with Italian giants AC Milan and Inter Milan, French sides Marseille and Monaco, and German’s RB Leipzig expressing their interest.

But according to the latest report, there is a chance Balogun could stay in London, with Chelsea keen on his services.

However, Arsenal’s valuation of the player could hinder Mauricio Pochettino’s side from landing him. Arsenal have placed a £50million price tag on the striker, who is expected to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer.