Aston Villa are the club who so far “came closest” to signing Joao Félix from Atlético Madrid in the January transfer window.
That’s according to journalist Manu Carreño, who says Unai Emery even spoke with the Portugal star in an attempt to convince him on a move to Villa Park.
Félix has been heavily linked with a move away from Atlético this month after an apparent falling out with Diego Simeone before the World Cup break.
Their relationship is now believed to be irreparable, and the forward has been pushing to get a move away from the Wanda Metropolitano in the January transfer window.
Aston Villa were named as surprise suitors early on, with it reported in Spain that Emery was eyeing up a huge addition as he looks to reshape the squad he inherited from Steven Gerrard.
They reportedly made initial contact about a potential transfer, but the player quickly dismissed their efforts, with a report in Spain making it clear he didn’t fancy the move.
Carreño now backs this up, insisting that the Villans are the club who have gotten closest to getting the forward, at least in terms of paying what Atlético want.
“I don’t think there will be an offer for Joao Félix. Nobody is going to come with the desired €100m and we will have to wait until the summer,” he told Cadena SER.
“We have been saying it for weeks, Atlético de Madrid see it as feasible to fix the financial fair play, because no team was going to come with that amount in the middle of the season, not even any of the Premier League.
“The one that came closest was Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, even the coach has contacted him, but it is a project for the future, and they want to imitate Manchester City.
“But Joao Felix does not see himself there. The only option is for him to leave on loan, and he can do that if he keeps pushing to leave that way. Then add an option to buy him, which doesn’t have to be compulsory.”
