Aston Villa midfielder wants to leave as Emery casts him aside, £6m could seal deal
Aston Villa are set for a busy summer transfer window after missing out on securing Champions League football for next season on goal difference.
The Villans were ultimately left to wonder what could have been as they were forced to settle for a place in the Europa League at the end of what was a hugely demanding season for Unai Emery and his players.
The B6 outfit progressed as far as the quarter finals in their return to Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 1982/83. However, that placed greater strain on their domestic campaign, and there were plenty of missed opportunities that they will rue when they look back on the season as a whole.
They will undoubtedly be looking to reinforce their squad this summer, with several potential defensive additions already mooted, however, sales could be equally as important.
Enzo Barrenechea will leave Villa permanently
Villa’s PSR concerns mean that, while incomings are obviously a big priority, they will also likely have to sell players in order to raise funds.
However, they also won’t want to lose any of their key players, meaning they must find creative ways of trimming the squad, without losing players that they can’t replace.
As a result, opportunities to secure fees for the likes of Enzo Barrenechea will be welcome ones.
The Argentine midfielder has spent the season on loan at Valencia and is firmly out of favour with Emery. The Villa boss has already told the 24-year-old that he will not be part of his plans again next season, according to RadioEsport Valencia (via Fichajes – 8 June).
The Spanish giants are now considering the possibility of bringing him back either on a loan with the option to buy, or on a permanent deal for a fee in the region of £4.5-6million.
Barrenechea is understood to have no doubt about his desire to return to Valencia.
Villa should take what they can get for Barrenechea
The fee that Valencia are considering offering at present will certainly not delight Villa, but they could be better off taking whatever they can get for the outcast midfielder.
Barrenechea joined the club from Juventus, the day after they sold Douglas Luiz to the Turin outfit back in July 2024, but he is yet to make a competitive appearance for the club. With Emery’s decision now made, it surely makes sense for Villa to take whatever they can get for the Argentine.
They only paid £6.7m up front to sign him, but may be forced to settle for around the same figure again this time around.
Barrenechea has been excellent during his loan stint at the Mestalla Stadium, but if Emery sees no way to work him into his thinking for the next campaign, then there is little point in keeping him around at Villa Park.