“Transfer Deadline Pressure: Will Aston Villa Cash In on Diego Carlos to Secure New Talent?”
Despite Unai Emery significantly strengthening his Aston Villa squad with additions like Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen, and Samuel Illing-Junior, he still seeks more reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
To fund further acquisitions, Emery may need to offload another player. So far, he has sold Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby to Juventus and Al-Ittihad, respectively. There are speculations that a defender might be next to leave.
With the transfer window closing soon, Emery must act quickly.
Recent rumors suggest Diego Carlos could be on his way out, with Fulham expressing interest. The Cottagers’ initial bid for the former Sevilla center-back was rejected, and there is also interest from the Saudi Pro League. With only a year left on his contract, this summer might be the last chance for Villa to sell Carlos.
Carlos was purchased for £26m in the summer of 2022, but Villa might not recover that amount. A decent transfer fee could help fund new signings, potentially enhancing the squad for the Champions League group stage.
Villa are reportedly eyeing a replacement for Carlos, with Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah being a target. Emery is keen on Chalobah, but he will only pursue him if Carlos is sold. There are other clubs interested in Chalobah, including Crystal Palace, which might influence Villa’s decision on Carlos. Chelsea is asking for around £35m for Chalobah, so Villa may need to accept a reasonable offer for Carlos if they wish to secure a new defender.