ASTON VILLA could move for Chelsea’s Joao Felix as Emi Buendia looks to be leaving the club.
Villa winger Buendia is close to agreeing a loan to Bayer Leverkusen, which includes an option to make the deal permanent for £17m.
Aston Villa could move for Chelsea’s Joao Felix[/caption]
Buendia, 28, signed a one-year contract extension until 2027 on Sunday.
Villa boss Unai Emery could move for 25-year-old Blues forward Joao Felix as a replacement.
He was Emery’s top summer target before the Portugal star’s £38.4m move from Atletico Madrid to Stamford Bridge.
The deal would have to be a permanent one if Axel Disasi goes to Villa Park as clubs can only have one loan player from each team.
Felix — who cost Atleti £112m in 2019 — has started just three Prem games this season.
Villa are battling Wolves in the pursuit to sign Chelsea centre-back Disasi.
Emery wants defensive reinforcements after selling Diego Carlos to Fenerbahce and seeing Tyrone Mings hit by a fresh injury during Sunday’s 1-1 draw against West Ham.
Wolves are considering Disasi with boss Vitor Pereira believing they are one centre-back short as they battle for Prem survival despite signing Emmanuel Agbadou from Reims, 27, for £16.6m this month.
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He has also launched a £16m bid for Lens ace Kevin Danso, 26, formerly of Southampton.
The Midlands clubs meet at Molineux on Saturday with both in desperate need of central defensive reinforcements.
Mings, who returned in October after 445 days out injured, fell to the turf in tears after injuring a knee again at the weekend.
But Mings eased fears of another long lay-off by posting on Instagram: “I’ve had some serious knee injuries, this isn’t one of them.”
Emery has also moved for Villarreal’s Juan Foyth, 27, who he worked with previously as boss of the Spanish club. Argentine Foyth plays centre-back and right-back which appeals to Emery.
Villa could push to land Foyth AND 26-year-old Disasi given that Ezri Konsa is the club’s only available senior centre-back — with Pau Torres facing another month out with a broken foot.
France international Disasi has started just three Premier League games all season.
Even with fellow centre-backs Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile sidelined by injuries, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has largely restricted the £39m signing from Monaco to Conference League and cup games.
