Aston Villa transfer state of play – £44m done deal, Loic Bade ‘talks’, Jhon Duran exit
Aston Villa transfer state of play – £44m done deal, Loic Bade ‘talks’, Jhon Duran exit
The all-in-one-place mid-January window Aston Villa transfer state of play, including done deals, likely signings and potential exits.
Aston Villa’s January transfer business is well underway as Unai Emery seeks to make improvements to his squad ahead of the rest of the season.
Currently seventh in the Premier League, three points outside the top four and on track to progress to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, Villa are enjoying another stellar campaign. It seemed impossible to live up to the heights of last term’s fourth-placed finish and heroic march to the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals but Emery is doing all he can to set the bar even higher.
So, what business has been done so far and what can the Villa Park faithful expect before the transfer deadline on February 3? Here’s a full run-through…
Unai Emery’s demand for ‘versatile’ attacker
Emery has wanted a versatile forward ever since Villa let Moussa Diaby depart for Al-Ittihad in a £52 million deal to ease PSR concerns. Jaden Philogene re-signing for £13.5 million was never going to be enough to fill Diaby’s boots and the winger’s return didn’t work out as hoped.
Villa have already granted Emery his wish this month, though, with Philogene sold once more – this time for an impressive £23 million to Ipswich Town – and Donyell Malen brought in for a similar fee. Signed from Borussia Dortmund, Malen can play on either flank or through the centre and is already a fully-fledged Netherlands international.
The work isn’t done there in the attacking depart as Birmingham World understands negotiations remain ongoing to sign Caen forward Tidiam Gomis. The 18-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough in Ligue 1, scoring two and assisting two in 18 appearances this term. Albeit one for the future, Gomis – expected to cost under £5 million – is a hot prospect Emery was keen to get on the books.
Meanwhile, Villa were tentatively linked with Rando Kolo Muani before his transfer to Juventus but it’s understood no other big-name forwards will be signed this month following the acquisition of Malen.
Louie Barry could exit after his loan at Stockport County was cut short. The 21-year-old scored 15 goals in 23 League One matches to start the campaign and has attracted interest from a host of Championship clubs. Birmingham World understands Middlesbrough have enquired over a loan whereas Celtic have contacted Villa about the potential of a permanent transfer.
Two first-team sales still possible
Another potential outgoing is central defender Diego Carlos, who is understood to be seen as dispensable by Villa as long as they can line up a replacement. Fabrizio Romano reports talks are at an advanced stage with Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce, with an agreement expected in the coming days.
Carlos, signed from Sevilla in 2022 for £26 million, has been a decent rotation option this season and last but he’s nowhere near the summit of the defensive pecking order at Villa Park. On high wages and now in his 30s, it makes sense for Villa to cash in Carlos while they still can.
An exit for Emiliano Buendia cannot be ruled out, either, with reports in Argentina suggesting River Plate have asked for the conditions of a potential deal. The attacking midfielder – much like Carlos – suffered a serious injury and hasn’t quite been at the same level since. It’s a sad reality, but Buendia just hasn’t progressed to the same level that Villa have in the last couple of years.
One defender signing demanded, another desired
Back to the incomings, and Emery is still yet to acquire the right-sided defender he’s been demanding for several months. Villa have built up an extensive shortlist, however, and are expected to finalise a move shortly.
Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza – formerly of Barcelona – is available for £16.6 million, Botafogo’s Wesley can be signed for upwards of £20 million and Levante’s Andres Garcia has a release clause of £10 million. Emery and Monchi, Villa’s president of football operations, have considered them all.
It appears – as per various reports in Spain – that Villa have agreed a deal for the latter choice, Garcia. The full-back, also capable of playing in the centre, has started every match in the Spanish second tier for Levante this season. Garcia, 21, is a Levante academy graduate.
Fabrizio Romano has since confirmed this to be true, reporting Villa agreed a fee of €7 million (£5.9m), significantly lower than the release clause. Garcia has already spoken with Emery ahead of his transfer to Villa Park.
The centre of defence could be reinforced if Carlos does indeed depart the club, with Sevilla’s Loic Bade a concrete target. Reports in Spain suggest Villa have already seen a bid rejected for the Frenchman, who stands at 6ft 3in and is a target for the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle United.
Jhon Duran exit latest
Villa’s prized wonderkid striker Jhon Duran will remain at the club this winter despite intense transfer interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League rivals, Birmingham World understands.
Although Villa were open to a sale in the summer at the right price, the stance has changed as Emery and Monchi now value Duran at over £100 million. The Colombian showed hints of promise last season but his stock has sky-rocketed this campaign, with 12 goals in just seven starts across all competitions.
Ollie Watkins led the line as the first-choice striker at the start of the term but the England international recently lost his place for four games in a row. Duran, now back for Villa after a three-match suspension, will be keen to retake that spot.
Three loans out
Birmingham World also understands Villa are looking to loan out three players this month, Joe Gauci, Sil Swinkels and Kosta Nedeljkovic.
Gauci, signed from Melbourne City for around £1.2 million last February, is very much in Emery’s plans for the future but the Australian goalkeeper is likelier to progress with regular football. With Robin Olsen the backup to Emiliano Martinez for at least the rest of this campaign, it makes sense for Gauci to go elsewhere for game time.
Swinkels, an academy product having joined from Vitesse as a 17-year-old in 2020, will also be allowed to depart temporarily. The four-time former Netherlands Under-18 international, 21, has only featured once for Villa this season – for 90 minutes in the 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers.
Finally, Nedeljkovic can exit until June if and when Villa sign a new right-sided defender as expected. The six-time Serbia international, 19, has made nine appearances across all competitions this term. Nedeljkovic has shown signs of living up to his £7.5 million price tag but he needs more minutes to progress at the rate desired.
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