Aston Villa are actively pursuing Marco Asensio and Joao Felix as part of their strategy to enhance their attacking options for the upcoming season. This initiative follows reports that the club has accepted a bid of approximately £64 million from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for striker Jhon Duran, who is currently undergoing a medical examination in London ahead of his transfer.
The anticipated funds from Duran's move are expected to significantly bolster Villa's transfer budget, enabling them to target crucial reinforcements in the forward line. Insights from The Athletic indicate that both Asensio and Felix are high on Aston Villa's list of priorities as they navigate this transfer window. The report noted that "Villa manager Unai Emery has held long-standing admiration for Paris Saint-Germain's Asensio and has been interested in signing the attacking midfielder in previous windows."
The recent departure of Emiliano Buendia to Bayer Leverkusen, coupled with Duran's likely exit, has intensified Villa's search for a new forward. Monchi, the club's president of football operations, elaborated on the interest in both players, stating, "They are similar players, who Unai Emery likes. Asensio was tried by Aston Villa before I arrived. Last summer we were close to Joao. Neither of them are easy because in terms of salary and cost they are not simple."
Monchi further emphasised Emery's ability to nurture talent, remarking, "If there is a coach in world football who recovers players, it is Unai Emery. He has been able to recover talents. Joao Felix has talent, and it is only a matter of finding the right environment to bring out the best version of himself. And Unai works very, very well on that."
According to Football Insider, Aston Villa may have access to greater financial resources than initially anticipated, as the transfer fee for Duran could potentially exceed £64 million with the inclusion of performance-related bonuses. This transfer has been described as "too good to turn down" for both Villa and Duran, who is expected to join Al-Nassr imminently.
Former Villa defender Alan Hutton has highlighted the necessity for additional support for Matty Cash, advocating for the acquisition of another defender before the transfer window closes. Evaluating the collaborative approach of Monchi and Emery, Hutton noted, "They've done well, to be fair. They've got a great relationship; they've worked together in the past. I think that really helps, having that bond between the two of them."
He added, "They know exactly what each other's looking for and it really does help. So, of course, everybody wants a massive name, but the chances of that happening are very slim. Because of the situation that they're in, they might not have as much money as they want to spend on a top target. So, I think it's probably somebody at this moment in time to really help out because they feel they probably need another right back as well."
Hutton pointed out, "If I'm looking at it, they're strong on the left-hand side. Konsa can go out to right back, but I think his best position is centre back. So maybe Matty Cash needs a little bit of help as well. We'll see what happens. I don't think it's going to be a huge name but I'm sure they've got something up their sleeve."
As the transfer window approaches its climax, speculation surrounding Joao Felix continues, with Manchester United reportedly considering a swap deal involving the Chelsea forward and Alejandro Garnacho. Concurrently, Aston Villa's renewed interest in Felix aligns with their urgent need to fill the void left by Buendia's departure.
This overview highlights the ongoing developments at Aston Villa as they aim to reinforce their squad ahead of the new season, with a clear focus on enhancing their attacking prowess and addressing defensive needs.