Aston Villa On The Verge Of Signing João Félix
In a move that could potentially shake up the Premier League, Aston Villa is reportedly on the verge of signing Portuguese forward João Félix from Atlético Madrid. The 24-year-old has been a long-standing target for Villa, and the club’s interest in him is well-documented.
Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, is a known admirer of Félix, and the club is considering the Portuguese international as a possible replacement for Moussa Diaby, who recently completed a €60 million move to Al-Ittihad.
While the deal is considered extremely difficult on a financial point of view for the total package, Villa is exploring the possibility of bringing Félix to Villa Park. The club’s ambition to compete at the highest level, coupled with the lure of Champions League football, could be a significant factor in persuading Félix to make the move.
Félix’s career has hit a bit of a roadblock in recent years, despite a solid 2023/24 campaign with Barcelona. The 24-year-old struggled with a few fitness issues and was not an undisputed first-choice starter for Barcelona, which meant he managed only 2,143 minutes of game time across 44 appearances in all competitions.
However, Félix still managed to contribute to 16 goals by finding the back of the net ten times and providing six assists. His performances were enough to convince Barcelona to pursue his signature in the summer transfer window.
But with the two clubs not finding a common ground on the transfer fees, other suitors, including Aston Villa, have emerged in the race to sign Félix. The Villans are preparing for a campaign in the UEFA Champions League, which means they need to bolster their squad in the summer transfer window.
Félix has thus emerged as a viable target, with the West Midlands club having the funds to afford a move for the 24-year-old Atlético Madrid outcast.
The latest reports suggest that Aston Villa might be the only realistic destination for Félix, with a move to Barcelona unlikely to materialize. This could be a significant coup for Villa, who are looking to build on their impressive season last year and challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
If the deal goes through, Félix could form a formidable partnership with Ollie Watkins, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal after his Euro 2024 heroics for England. However, the Three Lions star has shown no inclination of wanting to leave Villa Park and looks set to lead Emery’s side into the Champions League this season.
In conclusion, the potential signing of João Félix could be a game-changer for Aston Villa. The club’s ambition and the lure of Champions League football could be enough to persuade Félix to make the move to Villa Park. If the deal goes through, it could be a significant statement of intent from the club and could help them compete at a higher level in the coming season.