Aston Villa advance talks to sign €25m forgotten Nottingham Forest man wanted by Newcastle United

Aston Villa have reportedly submitted an opening bid to sign Sevilla defender Loïc Badé on a permanent basis.

Unai Emery has been searching for a new central defender to replace the likely outgoing Diego Carlos and Badé appears to be the priority target. The 24-year-old has been going from strength to strength since joining Sevilla in 2023, quickly establishing himself as one of the most talented defenders in La Liga.

Spanish publication Vamos Mi Sevilla reports Villa recently sent a first bid of €15 million (£12.6m) plus €5 million (£4.2m) in add-ons to sign Badé. Sevilla, open to talks, have rejected Villa’s offer and instead requested €22 million (£18.5m) plus €5 million in add-ons, as well as Carlos on loan.

It could make sense for Carlos to move in the other direction as the Brazilian is now surplus to requirements at Villa Park. Although he’s had his moments, the central defender’s £26 million move from Sevilla in 2022 hasn’t quite gone to plan. A return to Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium might be the best move for all parties.

Negotiations are expected to continue throughout the rest of this week but Villa need to reach a resolution quickly as fellow Premier League side Newcastle are also keen on Badé. The same report suggests the Magpies will too submit an offer of their own, so it could become somewhat of an auction.

This isn’t the first time Villa’s president of football operations, Monchi, has been in talks to sign Badé as he was the man to bring the player to his former club, Sevilla, in the first place. The pair had a strong relationship, as shown by hugs and laughs on live television after winning the 2023 UEFA Europa League.

Earlier in that very season - 2022/23 - Badé endured a disaster spell in England as he joined Nottingham Forest on loan but didn’t make a single competitive appearance. It was some rise to then join Sevilla and become a regular starter on the way to his first European crown.

How would Loïc Badé fit in at Aston Villa?

Three times an appearance maker for France Under-23 at the Olympic Games last summer, Badé is closing in on his first senior appearance for his country. He’s a top talent reportedly wanted by a host of elite clubs across Europe, including Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

Right-footed, towering at 6ft 3in and quick off the mark, Badé would slot in nicely alongside Pau Torres once the Spaniard has returned from his broken metatarsal injury. Ezri Konsa would likely shift across to right-back in place of Matty Cash, or Badé could rotate with Konsa in the middle across the Premier League and Champions League.

Badé is also very talented with his feet, more than capable of picking out a winger on the opposite flank or dribbling out from the back himself. Having Pau and Badé as two ball-playing defenders alongside one another could be terrifying for opponents. That would suit Emery’s system to a T.