Aston Villa and Liverpool are reportedly in pursuit of Sevilla defender Loic Bade, as highlighted by TEAMtalk. Both clubs are keen to strengthen their defensive line, with Villa contemplating a strategic transfer approach while Liverpool has shown considerable interest in the 24-year-old centre-back.
Liverpool has identified the acquisition of a new centre-back as a top priority for the upcoming transfer windows. Recent inquiries regarding Bade suggest he is high on their list of defensive targets. The club is also monitoring other potential signings, including Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio—who is attracting attention from Manchester United—and Murillo from Nottingham Forest.
Aston Villa has been closely tracking Bade's situation for several weeks. Monchi, Villa's sporting director, has reportedly reached out to Sevilla to discuss the feasibility of a transfer this January. With anticipated competition from Liverpool, Newcastle, and Atalanta in the summer, Villa is eager to act swiftly to secure Bade’s signature.
Monchi's familiarity with Bade is particularly noteworthy, as he had previously sought to bring the player to Sevilla before his departure from the club. Although the transfer was completed after Monchi's exit, his longstanding relationship with Sevilla could provide Villa with a distinct advantage in negotiations.
Bade’s contract with Sevilla includes a release clause set at €50 million (£42.2 million / $51.3 million). However, sources indicate that Sevilla would be open to negotiating a lower fee, with around €40 million (£33.8 million / $41.1 million) considered acceptable for a transfer this month. Before any deal can be finalised, Sevilla must identify a replacement, a process that has reportedly yet to make significant progress.
Currently, Aston Villa and other interested parties have not submitted formal offers for Bade. Nevertheless, the Midlands club is actively weighing their options and may engage in further discussions with Sevilla in the coming days. While Villa's interest is still in its early stages, the club holds the player in high regard.
Since joining Sevilla in the summer of 2023, Bade has made 76 appearances and scored two goals. His contract is set to run until 2029, underscoring Sevilla's intention to retain him for the foreseeable future.
In related news, TEAMtalk's Ben Jacobs has reported that Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is not considering a move to Saudi Arabia, countering recent speculation. Furthermore, Liverpool has not received a £70 million bid from Al-Hilal for Nunez and has no intention of parting ways with him this month. Al-Hilal's current squad exceeds the limit for foreign players, complicating their efforts to register Neymar for Saudi Pro League matches. To acquire Nunez in January, they must first offload two foreign players.
Additionally, Al-Hilal is looking to enhance their squad ahead of the Club World Cup, with manager Jorge Jesus reportedly interested in acquiring a right-sided attacker, which has sparked interest in Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
Meanwhile, Arsenal appears to be progressing towards a significant deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who was on the verge of joining Liverpool last summer. Reports suggest that Arsenal has activated Zubimendi's £51 million release clause, with negotiations advancing and a deal nearing completion.