West Ham United passed on a chance to sign Diego Carlos this summer before Aston Villa agreed a deal with Sevilla. Steven Gerrard had also favoured a move for James Tarkowski.
That is according to The Telegraph, which reports Gerrard had made personal efforts to be involved in discussions with Tarkowski. But Aston Villa changed course and pursued Carlos. A decision that allowed Everton to snap Tarkowski up as a free agent after he left Burnley.
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Carlos eventually joined Aston Villa on a four-year contract as their second signing of the summer for £26m in June. However, the 29-year-old ruptured his Achilles and required an operation in August. The surgery is likely to keep the Brazilian out for around nine months.
West Ham had been in the running with Aston Villa to sign Carlos from Sevilla, who had La Liga’s best defensive record last season. But the Irons chose to reject his potential move to the London Stadium. David Moyes instead pursued a £30m deal for Rennes’ Nayef Aguerd.
The Hammers also later acquired Thilo Kehrer from Paris Saint-Germain for £10m plus add-ons in August. Moyes targeted additional defensive options after Aguerd underwent ankle surgery. Gerrard also added another centre-half by loaning Jan Bednarek of Southampton.
West Ham turned down signing Carlos before Aston Villa saw mixed success
Bednarek headed for Birmingham to replace Carlos, who had only featured twice for Aston Villa in the Premier League. The Villa Park hierarchy targeted his transfer after he played a crucial role in Sevilla penning La Liga’s best defence with just 30 goals allowed in 38 games.
Carlos did not enjoy the ideal debut as Aston Villa lost 2-0 at Bournemouth on the opening day. He struggled with the Cherries’ physicality and opted to clear possession whenever it fell to him. Carlos’ work on the ball had promise, but Dominic Solanke had the better day.
Gerrard would have been pleased with what Carlos offered Aston Villa against Everton up until his injury, though. The player West Ham rejected played far more like the defender Spanish football expert Terry Gibson had predicted would be gracing the Premier league.
“Fantastic signing,” Gibson said on El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast. “With all due respect to Villa, I thought he would go to a Champions League team.
“I am surprised that he’s decided to drop out of that competition… But if there’s any Aston Villa fans listening, he’s a sensational centre-back who’s built for the Premier League.”
Gerrard could point to not having Carlos around beyond the second game of the season as a reason behind his sacking. Aston Villa fired the 42-year-old after a 3-0 defeat at Fulham.
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