Aston Villa transfer state of play: Medical booked, Loic Bade truth, Diego Carlos and more exits
Aston Villa are closing in on their second signing of the winter transfer window as business begins to ramp up ahead of the deadline in just over two weeks' time.
Villa completed their first deal earlier this week as Donyell Malen joined from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth around £20m plus add-ons. He was the answer to Unai Emery’s need for more pace and versatility in his front line.
As Malen arrived, Jaden Philogene departed. The winger signed on for Ipswich Town on Wednesday night for a fee similar to the one which Villa paid for Malen. Emery is a big believer in Philogene’s potential, but acknowledged that Monchi could improve on the 22-year-old this month.
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Villa are now set to complete their second deal of the window, with right-back Andres Garcia poised to join from Levante for a fee of around £6m. The 21-year-old is due to have his medical shortly ahead of penning a long-term contract with the club.
Sporting and Real Betis were also interested in signing Garcia, but Villa are set to win the race for the defender’s signature. Oscar Mingueza, Andrei Ratiu and Wesley Franca were all considered earlier in the month.
Garcia has made 22 La Liga 2 appearances this season, scoring three times and assisting three goals too. Kosta Nedeljkovic, who turned 19 last month, is expected to seal a loan move following Garcia’s arrival.
Elsewhere in defence, Villa are looking to move Diego Carlos on and replace him before the February 3 deadline. Fenerbahce are closing in on a deal to sign the 31-year-old, who is due to enter the final 12 months of his contract in the summer.
Carlos will miss this evening’s match against Arsenal and was also absent for the last three games against Leicester City, West Ham and Everton. Despite Emery explaining before the trip to Goodison Park that Carlos was injured, the centre-back took to social media to refute those claims, insisting he was fit.
Loic Bade of Sevilla is the prime target for Villa, but he will only be signed if Carlos leaves. It's the same situation as it was back in August when Villa wanted to recruit Lutsharel Geertruida. Monchi signed Bade on loan for Sevilla in January 2023, before the France international then joined the Spanish side permanently the following summer.
Bade travelled with the Sevilla squad to Girona on Friday night ahead of their match at the Estadi Montilivi this afternoon. Monchi and Villa's president of business operations Damian Vidagany watched Bade in action against Valencia at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium last Saturday.
Meanwhile, Villa are expected to shortly confirm the signing of teenage left-sided defender Yasin Ozcan, who will join from Kasimpasa for around £7m. They are also trying to get a deal over the line for 18-year-old winger Tidiam Gomis, who would then likely head back to Ligue 2 club Caen on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
Louie Barry is of interest to a number of clubs this month, but Celtic are set to test Villa's resolve with a seven-figure offer. A decision over the forward's future is expected to be taken soon.
Villa will likely let either one of their back-up goalkeepers Robin Olsen or Joe Gauci depart. The latter has a couple of options available to him, but Copenhagen are also thought to be keen to sign Sweden international Olsen.
Emi Buendia is another player to keep an eye on after Emery confirmed that he could leave the club for more game time in the second half of the season. River Plate are believed to be interested in signing the Argentinian.
Earlier in the month, Emery confirmed young centre-back Sil Swinkels will be allowed to leave on loan. A host of League One sides have expressed an interest in signing him.
