Returning from a loan at Girona last season, Villarreal’s Alex Baena has started the season in fine form for Unai Emery’s side.
So much so, in fact, that the 21-year-old is attracting attention from the Premier League, with Manchester City and Liverpool reportedly the ‘most interested’ in the player.
That’s according to Fichajes.net, who point out the player is the ‘great revelation’ at the La Liga club this season, and ‘several Premier League teams are preparing their respective offers’ for him.
What helps the English teams in this respect is the fact the player currently has a €35m release clause in his contract, which Villarreal are seemingly starting to get worried about.
It’s said the interest of the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool has ‘set off all the alarms’ at the Spanish club, and they are ‘seeking to renew his contract until 2025’, increasing the clause in the process.
They want to avoid a departure ‘as much as possible’, knowing that €35m isn’t exactly a lot for clubs like the Reds and the Cityzens.
It remains to be seen if Manchester City and Liverpool will actually make their move, but a player of Baena’s ilk is the kind of signing both clubs could realistically make with a view of slowly integrating him into their respective first-teams.
The interest of both clubs is also backed up by Sport, who appear to have very similar information to their counterparts.
