Diego Carlos transfer latest as talks held and Aston Villa identify potential replacements
Diego Carlos is reportedly in talks with Turkish club Fenerbahce to seal his exit from Aston Villa nearly three years after he was recruited from Seville by then boss Steven Gerrard.
The 31-year-old Brazilian has been the subject of plenty of speculation about his future at Villa Park and now it seems his time at the club is drawing to a close.
Carlos is due to enter the final 12 months of his current contract in the summer and moving on the high-earner will also be a major boost in Villa’s ongoing battle to comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
READ MORE: Man Utd face FA investigation over Arsenal win as 'points deduction' incident is raised
READ MORE: Non-league football club to play in stadium bigger than Premier League ground after securing deal
According to the Telegraph, Carlos has been available for sale over the last two transfer windows, but only now does it seem that a deal, potentially for a fee of up to £10m, is in place.
Villa have been reluctant to sanction a deal for Carlos without first sourcing a replacement, but the latest update comes amid speculation linking them with Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza, who was recently watched by Monchi, the club’s president of football operations.
Other defenders said to be in the frame for a move to Villa Park include Seville’s former Nottingham Forest centre-half Loïc Badé, while they were also reportedly offered the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain central defender Milan Skriniar on loan until the end of the season.
With Pau Torres out of action for up to two months through injury, Tyrone Mings only recently back from a long layoff himself and Carlos attracting transfer interest of his own amid ongoing fitness issues, Villa are in need of defensive reinforcements .
However, Villa boss Unai Emery has played a straight bat when asked about Carlos and a possible sale. He said last week: “When we are in the transfer window different options can happen with players. Of course we can see how important Diego Carlos was and is for us because he played consistently with us, performing very well.
"Of course, like I told you before, we are thinking in different circumstances but always trying to link and get what is best for the club, for the team and for each player. After those circumstances we will analyse and always try to make the best decision.”
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho is said to be keen on recruiting two new centre-backs, and the Turkish transfer window opens today.
