Aston Villa appears to be on the verge of securing a long-awaited acquisition. Reports suggest that the club is nearing a deal to finalize the signing of a new player in early January. This move is part of Unai Emery’s strategy to strengthen his squad and enhance their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Since Emery’s appointment at Villa Park in October 2022, he has been working diligently to assemble a team that many in the football world believe can compete both domestically and in European competitions this season. A key player in this endeavor has been Douglas Luiz, whose outstanding performance over the past year has garnered significant attention from other clubs. In response to this interest, Aston Villa is planning to initiate contract negotiations with Luiz to dissuade Arsenal, who have expressed long-term interest in the Brazilian international.
Several Villa players, including John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, and Ezri Konsa, have recently extended their contracts with the club. The hope is that Luiz will soon follow suit, as his current contract with the team is set to expire in 2026. Discussions regarding a contract extension for Luiz are expected to commence as early as January.
In other news, Aston Villa has expressed interest in acquiring Kalvin Phillips, who is currently out of favor at Manchester City. However, securing Phillips is estimated to cost around £50 million, and Villa faces competition from West Ham United, Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Juventus in their pursuit of the former Leeds United midfielder.
Furthermore, Aston Villa is reportedly making significant progress in their pursuit of Sevilla defender Marcos Acuna. The potential deal is valued at around €15 million (£13 million), and Sevilla is willing to sell. This transfer, expected to take place in January, has caught the attention of the Argentina international, who is eager to join Emery at Aston Villa following months of speculation about a possible move during the summer transfer window.
Marcos Acuna, highly praised as a “top defender” by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, has accumulated 132 appearances in various competitions during his time with Sevilla, contributing five goals and 13 assists. He has excelled in the art of winning tackles, boasting an impressive rate of approximately 2.63 tackles per 90 minutes over the past year, ranking in the 88th percentile in this category compared to other players across Europe’s top five leagues.
At present, Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno occupy the left-back positions at Aston Villa. However, the addition of Acuna to the squad would create healthy competition for playing time under Emery, as the club continues its pursuit of sustained success.
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