Aston Villa transfer news: Atletico Madrid ‘circling’ for midfielder, facing La Liga competition
Atletico Madrid are reportedly among a number of clubs who are contemplating whether to make an approach for an Aston Villa midfielder during the summer transfer window.
Aston Villa are reportedly expected to receive an array of offers for one of their midfielders during the summer transfer window.
On the back of their Champions League elimination at the quarter-final stage earlier this week, Villa are now focused on trying to achieve a top-five position in the Premier League table and winning the FA Cup.
Achieving those goals could prove pivotal in determining the size of Unai Emery’s budget once the market reopens in June, Villa potentially looking at spending in the region of Ā£55m to retain loanees Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford.
Jhon Duran’s move to Al-Nassr in the winter will help matters on that front, yet Villa are no strangers to having to wheel and deal to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.
A pivotal deal in June involved Enzo Barrenechea, who was one of two players to arrive from Juventus as Douglas Luiz moved in the other direction.
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Atletico keen on Barrenechea?
As per Tribuna Deportiva, the Argentine has now become a target of several of Spanish football’s biggest clubs.
Atletico Madrid are said to be ‘circling’ for a player who has emerged as a star performer during his season-long loan spell at Valencia.
Since Carlos Corberan took charge in Decmeber, Valencia have accumulated 25 points from 14 games in La Liga, the third best return across that period.
Barrenechea has featured in 12 of those games, starting every fixture, and is viewed as one of Valencia’s best players of the season with 24 appearances in the engine room.
The report alleges that Atletico, as well as Real Betis and Villarreal, are contemplating whether to try to negotiate a deal for Barrenechea.
Ā© Imago
PSR benefits for Villa
Unless Emery is going to bring Barrenechea back to play his first competitive games for Villa next season, it makes sense for a sale to be considered.
Barrenechea cost in the region of ā¬11m (Ā£9.43m) last summer and his value has considerably increased across his time in Spain.
Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana will realistically remain ahead of Barrenechea in the pecking order when Emery assesses his options.
Therefore, if Villa can double their money on Barrenechea, or at least receive another loan fee for his services, it seems likely that next season, at least, will be spent away from the West Midlands.
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