Aston Villa transfer update as Mario Hermoso negotiations held
Aston Villa have increased their interest in Atletico Madrid’s Mario Hermoso ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Marca.
The Spanish media outlet reported [23 March] that the Villans have held negotiations with the 28-year-old defender, who is out of contract at the Wanda Metropolitano at the end of the season.
It is understood that Hermoso has previously rejected a new contract from Atletico, triggering interest from Serie A and the Premier League, with Villa leading the race for his signature, as per Calcio Mercato.
Would Mario Hermoso be an intelligent addition to the Aston Villa squad?
At just 28 years of age, Hermoso still has plenty of fight to give on the pitch, and with 165 appearances under Diego Simeone since 2019, he has an incredible amount of experience.
With Atletico regularly qualifying for the Champions League, the Spaniard has added 28 matches on the biggest stage of them all to his footballing CV, which could add some much-needed wisdom to Unai Emery’s squad.
Though Emery’s current squad holds a lot of high-profile players, only a few of them have tasted Champions League football, or international success like Emiliano Martinez at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
Villa’s injury situation this season has been absolutely dire, with Kortney Hause, Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia, Boubacar Kamara, and now Matty Cash all being dealt spells on the sidelines throughout the season.
Hermoso could provide some vital cover in defence, as well as the European wisdom, especially if Villa can hold onto their top-four spot in the Premier League this season and qualify for the Champions League.
Just three points above Tottenham Hotspur, it is becoming a very real possibility that they could drop out of the top-four spots, however. But the Europa League either through league position or winning the Conference League is obviously still a huge possibility.
In other Aston Villa news, Don Goodman has shared why one of Villa or Tottenham now have a “massive” advantage in the top-four race.
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