'Deal on' - Aston Villa 'send proposal' to seal transfer for £13m ex-Spurs star

Aston Villa have already made some moves on the January transfer window and now, they’re looking to round off the month with another defensive signing to aid their Champions League football push.

Following the sale of Diego Carlos to Fenerbahçe, Unai Emery has been looking at new options to replace the Brazilian. The Villans had their sights set on bringing in Loïc Badé from Sevilla but the pursuit has since hit a stumbling block. The Spanish side have rejected an initial offer of £22 million including add-ons from Aston Villa.

The latest update from Fabrizio Romano reports that Villa have been left ‘on standby’, with Badé also not accepting their direct approach. With a move for Badé now seemingly slipping away, Emery and co have shifted their attention elsewhere as they remain keen on adding a new defender to the roster before the window slams shut.

Aston Villa ‘determined’ to sign ex-Spurs star

According to Spanish outlet AS, Villa are ‘determined’ to secure the signing of former Tottenham Hotspur defender Juan Foyth this month. They have ‘presented an offer’ to Spanish side Villarreal, the former club of Emery. The Villa boss made the move to the La Liga side in 2020, eight months after he was sacked from his position at Arsenal.

Emery spent just over two years with Villarreal before his move back to the Premier League with Aston Villa. The Spaniard managed Foyth during their time together in Castellón and now, the versatile defender has been linked with a reunion with his former boss.

The AS report claims that the offer tabled by Villa is one that Villarreal are currently ‘evaluating’. His contract is due to expire in the summer of 2026, which has opened up conversations about his future.

Romano has followed up with a similar update on the Foyth situation, writing on social media: “Aston Villa are in talks to sign a new defender and Juan Foyth is one of the main targets, after Badé deal off. Initial proposal already sent to Villarreal as Unai Emery knows the player well. Deal on.”

Juan Foyth considers next move

If Foyth makes the move to Aston Villa, he will return to the Premier League for the first time in almost four years. The Argentina international signed for Tottenham back in 2017, in a reported £8 million move from boyhood side Estudiantes. During his time in north London, Foyth was mainly a fringe player, making just 32 appearances during his full tenure with Spurs.

The defender enjoyed a string of starts in cup competitions during his debut season, but did not make it off the bench in the Premier League. Foyth was heavily utilised as a centre-back under Mauricio Pochettino, proving his versatility across the backline.

The 27-year-old has had limited time on the pitch for Villarreal this season as he has overcome a recent injury. He returned to action in December and has had a mixed run of outings, from starts to not leaving the bench.