Aston Villa transfer state of play: Felix confirmation, Asensio talks, Danso approach and Watkins truth
Aston Villa have just over three days left to complete their transfer business ahead of the second half of the campaign.
So far, Monchi has signed two players for Unai Emery’s first-team as Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia were recruited at a cost of £26m combined. Malen joined just before Jaden Philogene departed for £20m to Ipswich Town, while Garcia has been signed because Emery wants Kosta Nedeljkovic to leave on loan to get regular minutes under his belt.
Diego Carlos signed for Fenerbahce in a deal worth £8.5m, leaving Villa light in defence in the last month after he told the club he wanted to depart. Villa sanctioned a loan move for Emi Buendia to Bayer Leverkusen, while the Bundesliga side have an option to buy the 28-year-old for £17m too.
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But Villa’s budget for the final days of the window will be boosted by the £65m sale of Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr. The Colombia international accepted a huge wage hike to join the Saudi Pro League side and his move is expected to be finalised today.
After letting Duran leave, Villa are insistent that they won’t sell a key player before the window shuts amid Arsenal’s interest in Ollie Watkins. The Gunners put in an offer said to be around £45m for the striker earlier this week, which was quickly rejected.
Watkins is settled at Villa and concentrated on the club’s important second half of the season. Unai Emery’s side are targeting a top five finish - which will likely secure Champions League football - and to go deep in this season’s competition after qualifying for the round of 16 on Wednesday night.
Villa are after a creative forward to partner Watkins after selling Duran. Emery has a long-standing interest in Joao Felix as Villa have tried to sign the Portuguese in several previous transfer windows, while Marco Asensio is also managed by super agent Jorge Mendes and has been the subject of talks between Villa and PSG.
Monchi confirmed Villa’s interest in the pair on Thursday evening, as he told El Partidazo de COPE: "Let's see with the names we're considering. It attracts a little attention depending on what he wants from the profile that he's looking for. They are two similar players who move in a similar area of the field and they're to Unai's liking. Marco Asensio, Aston Villa tried to sign him two summers ago. In the end he decided to go to PSG.
"I think with Felix we've tried to bring him in practically every market. In the end he decided to go to Chelsea, in the exchange with Conor Gallagher and Atletico Madrid. He's always been a target for us. Neither of them are easy because of the salary level and the cost level. It's not easy but it's true and I cannot deny that they are players who are attractive.
"If there is a coach in European or even world football who is characterised by recovering players and getting the most out of them, it's Unai Emery. At Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal, even here in Birmingham and Aston Villa, he has been able to recover talent. If the footballer has talent, and in the case of Joao Felix he does, it's a case of finding a suitable environment to get the best version of the player."
Villa are also admirers of Matheus Cunha, but know a deal would be very difficult to strike with Wolves, who are scrapping relegation this season. The Brazilian is their best player and has played a vital role for them since the start of last season.
The Guardian and Daily Mail both reported on Thursday that Villa are weighing up a move for Cunha, despite Wolves’ stance that he is not for sale and they are hopeful he will pen fresh terms.
In desperate need of a new centre-back, Villa have assessed several options and opened talks with Chelsea, Villarreal and Lens in a bid to replace Carlos. Villa opened talks with Chelsea over signing Axel Disasi on loan until the end of the season, with the player keen to join Emery’s squad.
Foyth, meanwhile, is well known to Emery after playing at right-back under the Spaniard when Villarreal won the Europa League and then went to the Champions League semi-final. The Villa boss confirmed the club’s interest in Foyth last week, but as of now, there hasn’t been any progress on a move.
Finally, Villa are said to have approached to take RC Lens to take Kevin Danso on loan despite Juventus being confident over signing the centre-back on loan in a package worth around £3.3m.
