Former Blackburn Rovers man on Aston Villa transfer 'agenda' as €25m release clause emerges

Aston Villa apparently have CA Osasuna defender Flavien Enzo Boyomo on their radar ahead of the January window.

A new centre-back appears to be the priority for Unai Emery given the speculation in recent weeks. Earlier this week it was reported that Villa would be open to offers to sell Diego Carlos and that Diego Llorente of Real Betis was a target.

It was admitted that a move for Llorente would prove difficult as he had only completed a move back to Spain from Leeds United in the summer. Alternative targets would need to be sought and now a new name has popped up on Villa's agenda.

Spanish newspaper Super Deporte say that Enzo Boyomo has been a revelation in La Liga this season and that has caught the attention of Villa. The club have reportedly made the Cameroon centre-back their next target, and that the negotiating process could be made simpler as he shares the same agency as Pau Torres.

Aston Villa aren't alone in their interest for Boyomo and there is said to be some unnamed clubs that could make an attempt to sign him. He is under contract until 2029, however there Spanish media report that there is a €25m release clause.

Osasuna paid €5m to bring Boyomo to Spain from Real Valladolid earlier this summer. He has so far played in 10 games across all competitions for his new club after joining from Real Valladolid.

Boyomo already has experience of playing in England as he was a part of Blackburn Rovers' academy. He joined from Toulouse in 2016 and spent four years playing for their under-18 and under-21s teams.

Albacete signed him on a free transfer and he ended up playing 100 games in the lower levels of Spanish football. Valladolid later took a chance on him three-years later before making a profit.

Boyomo most recently celebrated making his international debut for Cameroon. He played in a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe, having been an unused substitute for the last three games.