Aston Villa in pole position to seal Mario Hermoso transfer in Villa Park update
Aston Villa are in pole position to sign Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso as a free agent, with the defender’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, according to CalcioMercato.
The Italian news outlet reported [11 March] that the Villans are leading the race to sign the 28-year-old centre-back, who has gained interest from Juventus and AC Milan.
It is understood that Unai Emery is intent on securing the Spaniard’s signature, but it could be a tricky situation with contract extension talks reopening in the previous few days.
Could Aston Villa add another centre-back to the squad?
Villa have been torn apart by injuries this season, with Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Kortney Hause and Boubacar Kamara all sidelined with long-term setbacks.
These have likely had a lasting impact on Emery’s side, who have slipped closer to falling out of the top-four spots in the Premier League as Tottenham Hotspur continue their fine form.
Though they are still fighting for the Champions League spots, as well as competing in the Europa Conference League, there are no doubts that injuries have hindered some of their appearances.
With two of their serious injuries sustained to centre-backs, it is obvious why Emery would hone his search ahead of the summer transfer window. And considering the financial situation at Villa Park, free transfers make a lot of sense.
Hermoso boasts 164 appearances for Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, having signed from Espanyol in July 2019, becoming an ever-present for the La Liga outfit.
Of course, Villa will need to wait until the summer to make any transfers, which will be too late to have any effect on the current campaign. However, if the club are able to achieve its targets this season, there could be some Champions League matches for Hermoso to compete in.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery is understood to be ready to take Villa to the “next level” with his transfer plans at Villa Park
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