Aston Villa could be faced with unforeseen transfer decision after change of fortunes
Aston Villa decided to loan out Enzo Barrenechea almost straight after the young Argentine joined the club in the summer transfer window. Midfielder Barrenechea joined Villa, along with teammate Samuel Iling-Junior, from Juventus in the summer, in a window which saw Douglas Luiz move in the opposite direction.
After being involved under Unai Emery in pre-season, though, Barrenechea didn't make the matchday squad for Villa's opening Premier League games against West Ham United and Arsenal. Along with Iling-Junior, it was decided that the pair would be permitted to leave and secure regular minutes in a first-team environment elsewhere for the forthcoming season.
While Iling-Junior returned to Italy with Bologna, Barrenechea headed to Spain and joined Valencia, a sizeable club which has underperformed this season and which, at the time of writing, finds itself immersed in a La Liga relegation battle. They have since switched manager, bringing in Carlos Corberan from West Bromwich Albion on Christmas Eve, and there has been an upturn since.
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Valencia were denied by Real Madrid in Corberan's first match, conceded late and dropped two points to Sevilla in his second but claimed a much needed victory this past weekend when they edged out Real Sociedad 1-0. The common theme? Barrenechea has, in all three matches and for the first time this season, completed 90 minutes.
Barrenechea, who has scored once - in a 1-1 draw with Getafe - and produced one assist - in a 1-1 draw with Espanyol - this season, is now reportedly eager to remain at the Mestalla for at least next season, too, having enjoyed himself in Valencia since joining. To date, he has made 16 appearances for Los Che, who head to Barcelona this weekend.
The inclination to wish to remain with his loan club for next season, even well before his existing loan spell has concluded, would leave Villa and Emery, who are otherwise anticipating his return in time for pre-season, with a fresh decision in the summer.
