With Champions League football secured, Aston Villa may be a force to be reckoned with during the summer transfer window.
The Midland giants have always been ambitious and relatively big-spending during the Nayef Sawiris and Wes Edens era.
But, with a seat at Europe’s top table alongside Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Inter Milan now theirs, Aston Villa could find themselves operating from a position of unprecedented strength when the market begins.
HITC have been told that Villa have their sights set on a number of potential star signings. Talks are underway regarding Paris Saint-Germain’s £17 million Spain international Carlos Soler. There is interest in Jeremie Frimpong too, a £34 million release clause making German champions Bayer Leverkusen vulnerable to losing their jet-heeled right-sider.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are big Alex Baena fans
A release clause in Alex Baena’s own contract will have some at Villarreal concerned about the future of their own prized asset, especially with Emery keen on a reunion with a player he worked with on the Castellon Coast.
One man not losing any sleep, however, is Villarreal’s long-serving president Fernando Roig. Following an impressive second half of the campaign – the tactics of Marcelino Garcial Toral and the relentless goalscoring of Alexander Sorloth dispelling those relegation fears – Villarreal are now ‘doing very well, both economically and sportingly’.
Roig has no intention of cashing in on Baena either, though a £51 million clause in the playmaker’s contract might not be sufficient to put off an Aston Villa outfit with deep pockets and big ambitions (Football Espana).
“Baena is a player for Villarreal in the coming years. We are betting heavily on Baena,” Roig tells Diario AS when asked specifically about that Aston Villa interest. “I think that, in the coming seasons, he will still grow and be a better player. Baena is a great player.
“We do not talk about hypotheses or the future. We are not (interested) in that right now. The important thing is that Baena is a player who has grown a lot at Villarreal, and my intention is for him to continue growing here.
I don’t like to talk about hypotheses. Although I always say that there are three parties (in a deal). And that, if all three parts agree, it can always be closed.
“But, right now, it is not an issue we are working on.”
Villa in talks to sign Carlos Soler from PSG
Baena, like fellow Spain star Soler, is a highly-technical, attack-minded midfielder with an eye for a goal and a cutting pass. In all competitions this season, the silky 22-year-old has five goals and an incredible 17 assists.
Soler, the former Valencia captain, should be both more affordable and more attainable, however. HITC have been told that Paris Saint-Germain are open to offers, Soler playing only eight minutes during their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Villa have already sold Morgan Sanson to Nice, freeing up funds in their wage bill, while Philippe Coutinho is in talks to join Vasco da Gama back home in Brazil.
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