Aston Villa transfer proposal made which could hand Unai Emery a solution
Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos could well leave the club this month. The Brazilian's future at Villa Park has been in question since the summer, when he eventually stayed put but was wanted by Premier League rivals Fulham. With Villa, at that stage, in need of offloading talent in order to comply with PSR, Carlos was one player who might've made way.
Now into the January transfer window, and centre half Carlos has suitors abroad; Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce, who are second in the Turkish Super Lig, are keen on signing the player, who arrived from Sevilla for around £26m in the summer of 2022, during the era of Steven Gerrard.
Villa boss Unai Emery has mostly leaned on existing options Ezri Konsa and the fit again Tyrone Mings, as well as his own recruit in Pau Torres, but Carlos - because of various injuries - has clocked up appearances all the same in the meantime. He has featured in 17 matches in all competitions so far this term.
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Villa signing another defender this month, though, would appear to be a priority for Villa and president of football operations Monchi, who have lost Torres for a couple of months with a foot injury; Monchi has been spotted back in Spain doing a spot of scouting this past weekend, when he attended Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo. Monchi and Damian Vidagany were then seen at Sevilla v Valencia on Saturday evening.
Lots of names have been thrust forward, including Oscar Mingueza, but Sevilla centre half Loic Bade, who has a contract until 2029, has become a prominent name in the transfer market and a potential option for Villa, who are looking for a versatile and affordable defender who can cover the back-line.
Reports in Spain claim that Sevilla want €22m plus €5m in bonuses from Villa if they're to part with Bade - as well as Carlos on loan until the end of the season, with the Lions paying half of his wages. Carlos, as mentioned, was signed from Sevilla in the first place and made 136 appearances for the Spanish club across three seasons after arriving from Nantes in 2019.
