Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - May 28, 2023 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts after the match REUTERS/Ed Sykes
Aston Villa frontrunners for big transfer and Harvey Barnes latest
The transfer window opened for Premier League clubs last week, and Aston Villa are busy making moves in the market.
Unai Emery will be competing with the “big six” to qualify for European football for the second season running next term, and added Youri Tielemans as his first signing earlier this month. Villa want to add several top quality additions to his squad this summer.
Here, BirminghamLive reviews the top transfer lines surrounding Villa…
READ | Pau Torres to Aston Villa transfer latest: Unai Emery talks and Bayern Munich interest
Pau Torres to Aston Villa transfer latest: Unai Emery talks and Bayern Munich interest
Villa are currently the frontrunners to sign Pau Torres and are hopeful of reaching an agreement with Villarreal to sign the centre-back. Torres has 12 months remaining on his contract and is prepared to finally leave his boyhood club this summer.
BirminghamLive understands that Emery has been in contact with Torres over a possible move to Villa Park, and the 26-year-old has been encouraged by the club’s exciting project. Personal terms with the defender are not expected to be an issue as Villa look to press ahead with the move.
Torres has a release clause in excess of £50million, but while he has a year left on his deal, Villa are reluctant to pay it this summer. The La Liga club are still holding out for a sizeable fee and Villa are confident that an agreement can be found.
BirminghamLive says: Emery took Torres’ game on another level while working with the centre-back at Villarreal, and now has the opportunity to bring him to Villa Park. Bayern Munich are monitoring developments, so Villa need to reach an agreement with Villarreal to get this done quickly. If Villa get Torres over the line, it would be a major coup for Emery.
Harvey Barnes transfer latest as clubs circle
Harvey Barnes is likely to leave Leicester City this summer given the level of interest in him from a number of Premier League clubs, but at this stage, a move away is not close. Villa are one of the clubs interested in signing Barnes this summer, and BirminghamLive understands that the winger would be open to joining Emery’s squad.
Europa Conference League winners West Ham are also interested in Barnes, and could make a move shortly as they are set to sell their captain reported fee in the region of £100million. Tottenham and Newcastle are also thought to be monitoring developments.
BirminghamLive says: Villa have an interest in Barnes, but he is one of several forward targets Emery would consider signing this summer. He’d offer something which Villa don’t have in their squad right now, which is explosive pace and a direct runner, who can get amongst the goals. Last season, Barnes scored 13 in a struggling Leicester team.
