Aston Villa cooking as details emerge on big-money move for Real Madrid starlet
Aston Villa are increasing their interest in signing Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia.
Unai Emery is hopeful of new signings at Villa Park this month, after what many believed was a poor summer transfer window.
Roberto Olabe will work closely with Emery following the departure of Monchi, as the pair’s lengthy history together will hopefully pay dividends for the Villans in January.
Garcia has been linked with a move to Aston Villa in the weeks leading up to the window opening, but the latest update suggests a formal offer is being prepared.
Aston Villa prepare £26m offer for Gonzalo Garcia
There have been suggestions that Garcia could be Ollie Watkins’ long-term replacement in B6, but if anything, the Spaniard would provide Emery with another quality number nine option.
The Real Madrid forward has only just burst onto the scene this season, initially catching attention at the FIFA Club World Cup competition.
Villa will most likely have to pay a decent-sized fee to pry the 21-year-old away from the Santiago Bernabeu, after the youngster scored a hat-trick in Madrid’s 5-1 win over Real Betis at the weekend.
- Garcia scored four goals at the Club World Cup tournament
- His hat-trick against Betis was his first goals since pre-season
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes on Sunday, Villa hold firm interest in the striker and believe he fits perfectly into Emery’s project.
Real Madrid are said to be open to any scenario regarding Garcia, as Villa have an offer of £26.1million that they are willing to put on the table for the attacker.
Aston Villa‘s interest spiked once more after the Spaniard’s hat-trick and now may make a formal offer in the coming days.
But given that Garcia has only just scored his first goals of the season since the FIFA Club World Cup, there may still be concerns over the forward.
Garcia’s all-around play statistics
Aston Villa are without real competition for Watkins, and despite Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand both featuring up top for Emery this season, neither has convinced.
Watkins has gone through rough patches at Villa Park this term; however, the Englishman has found his feet in front of goal once again.
Garcia has only started for Real Madrid on two occasions in the league, but has made a further 12 appearances off the bench.
He averages a 75 per cent aerial duel win rate, and seems to do the dirty side of the game well with 2.09 tackles per 90.
Despite only having played 258 minutes, Garcia has 1.40 shots on target per match and could be the perfect man to bring off the bench for goals in the second half of the season.
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