‘Unai Emery to hand out Aston Villa lifeline’ as transfer interest waved away
Aston Villa’s transfer window has been awash with talk of potential sales so far this summer as they look to address their PSR concerns.
Villa have serious concerns about breaching the Premier League’s restrictions, and that has been expected to force their hand where some members of the squad are concerned.
The B6 outfit are likely to have to complete at least one big sale before the PSR deadline on 30 June, and even Morgan Rogers has been tipped for an unexpected Villa Park departure.
It’s a situation that will be hugely unwelcome for Unai Emery, who will still be reeling from his disappointment on the final day of the season.
The Spanish boss will be desperate to secure a return to the Champions League next season, but his job is being made ever harder by the issues behind the scenes.
Enzo Barrenechea set to stay at Villa for pre-season
Emi Martinez seems destined to exit Villa this summer, but he isn’t the only Argentine star who has been facing an uncertain future in the second city.
Enzo Barrenechea is yet to play a competitive game for Villa since his move from Juventus last summer, and he has been the source of much transfer speculation this summer following a promising loan spell at Valencia last term.
Barrenechea has recently been mooted for a potential move to Real Betis, but the 24-year-old now appears set to be handed a lifeline by his parent club.
The midfielder’s bright loan stint clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed within the Villa camp, and he is now in line to given a chance with the Villans in pre-season, according to The Express and Star (27 June).
It is understood that Emery himself has been a key part of that decision, with the former Arsenal and Sevilla chief keen to take a look at a player who has largely been cast adrift since making the switch to England.
Barrenechea could be like a new signing for Villa
The PSR concerns looming at Villa Park will play heavily on the Villans’ business this summer.
They will have to find clever ways of strengthening the squad, and one of the ways to do that is by maximising the talent they already have on their books.
| Apps | 30 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Pass accuracy | 87% |
| Duels won (%) | 61% |
| Tackles won | 30 |
| Interceptions | 28 |
Barrenechea became something of an outcast last season, with Villa reluctant to recall him and involve him in their plans. Now though, there is potential that his return could be like a new signing for Emery and Co.
The purse strings will be tight for the foreseeable future, and Barrenechea could provide the perfect way for the Villans to add to their midfield ranks without having to spend a single penny.
The Argentine showed what he could do during his spell with Valencia last season, and he now has the chance to show Emery what he has been missing in pre-season.
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