Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is a fan of Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez and ‘has not let him out of his sight’ after trying to sign him for Villarreal.
That’s according to Sport, who say the defender is very much on the list of potential targets for Villa in the January transfer window.
The newspaper explains that the defender is currently debating a renewal at the Santiago Bernabeu, having delayed the decision over a lack of playing time this season.
He has been an ‘institution’ at the club, having only ever played for them and been a regular in the first team over the last nine years without ever demanding the spotlight.
However, he is facing an increased battle for playing time and now has the dilemma of whether to renew his deal, which expires in 2023, or move somewhere else for regular playing time.
He’s had ‘important’ offers from clubs in the past but never considered leaving because of his loyalty to the club.
That loyalty is now being questioned and one of those who is considering taking advantage of that is Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
He ‘wanted’ the defender at Villarreal, seeing him as an ‘effective and profitable player’ and ‘tried to take him’ to his former side.
He has ‘not let him out of his sight’ despite moving to the Midlands and thus ‘could return to the charge’ to try and take him to Aston Villa in January.
Emery is likely to face competition, though, with AS Roma, AC Milan and Benfica among the other clubs all eyeing up a potential deal.
