Aston Villa prospect Carney Chukwuemeka attracting serious interest from Barcelona – Fabrizio Romano
Aston Villa contract rebel Carney Chukwuemeka could be heading to Spanish giants Barcelona next season, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Chukwuemeka has been in a transfer standoff with Villa for some time, with TalkSport revealing he had rejected a contract at Villa as far back as November 2021.
He has been linked with some of Europe’s elite clubs since then, but transfer insider Romano reported via Twitter on Monday night (11 July) that he has emerged as a serious target for Barcelona.
As he is in the final year of his contract, Chukwuemeka will be free to talk to Barcelona in January and will be available for just a FIFA training compensation fee.
FIFA’s official rules state that training compensation fees are to be paid to the club where a player signed his first professional contract every time he transfers before the end of the season of his 23rd birthday.
It is unclear how high that fee will be as the regulations state that the fees should be as much as the buying club would have paid if they developed the player themselves.
A huge blow for Villa
The latest twist in the Chukwuemeka saga comes as a massive blow to Villa as it does not work for the club on any level.
While they do get to keep Chukwuemeka for another year, it will come with the knowledge that they will lose him for a low fee halfway through the season.
Chukwuemeka was not essential to Villa last season, playing just 301 minutes of football (FBRef) and starting just twice all season, but it is never nice losing your brightest prospects.
This was likely a deliberate choice by Steven Gerrard as there has been no indication from the player’s camp that he will sign a new deal.
However, Villa fans can take solace in the knowledge that Chukwuemeka is just one of many stars coming out of the Villa academy right now.
Tommi O’Reilly is the latest young midfielder to come off the Bodymoor Heath production line and he showed no hesitation in signing a long-term contract at Villa Park back in March.
While the club has been stung by Chukwuemeka’s reluctance to sign a new deal, it is not the end of the world for Villa.
In other Aston Villa news, their friendly against Walsall saw the partnership between Diego Carlos and Tyrone Mings begin to blossom.