Aston Villa could be fighting to keep hold of one of their prized assets this summer - recruitment chief Monchi.
The Spanish transfer market guru has already been the subject of speculation linking him with a move back to Seville. And that’s not the only place where he might find a home this summer.
Fenerbahce Among Clubs Targeting Monchi
The Aston Villa guru is in demand
Monchi
GIVEMESPORT understands Fenerbahce are hovering, too.
The 56-year-old is currently president of football operations at Villa Park. Along with Damian Vidagany - who is his sidekick as director of football operations - the duo have been the eyes and ears of manager Unai Emery.
There have been spectacular successes on their watch - most notably Morgan Rogers who was plucked out of Middlesbrough for £7m and turned into an England international.
And Youri Tielemans who arrived on a free transfer from Leicester City and swept up at the club’s end-of-year awards.
However, there has been money spent on the likes of Ian Maatsen who cost £35m and Amadou Onana, a £50 recruit from Everton 12 months ago who have yet to repay their fees.
If approached, Monchi would have to sever his ties with manager Unai Emery with whom he spent working alongside during a large chunk of his nine years with Seville - and that is by no means a given.
But there is a link between current Fenerbahce chief Jose Mourinho and super-agent Jorge Mendes.
Monchi also shares a relationship with both and that’s why his name has been talked about.
Villa would be reluctant to lose him - and the length of his relationship with Emery could prove a crucial factor in determining where he ends up next season.
Interviewed on Canal Sur earlier this month, Monchi spoke of his affection for Villa and how he was looking to provide boss Unai Emery with ‘the best team possible'.
When quizzed about his own future, the 56-year-old said:
I focus a lot on the present, and my present is ensuring financial fair play and giving Emery the best team.
"I don’t think about my future. I’m trying to build the best project possible. The owners know about my links with Aston Villa. It doesn’t help that rumours of my return to Seville are circulating - but it doesn’t affect me, either.
Aston Villa Ticket News Not Well-Received
Villa fans frustrated with price rises
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Ticket prices sparked a tidal wave of criticism towards Villa last term after the club landed plum draws in the Champions League.
The cost of attending the re-run of the 1982 European Cup final ran to almost three figures for the best tickets - adults were being priced at £97 - rises that the Football Supporters’ Association said were ‘truly eye-watering'.
And it appears that the latest news has not been well-received.
A five percent hike in adult season-ticket prices was the headline. The sub-text was a price freeze for Under-21s. Prices have also been slashed for matches in the Europa League.
But it’s clear that frustration is still bubbling beneath the surface.
One fan, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I sit in the North Stand lower, my season ticket’s gone up from just over £400 to £672 - and if you do the maths, that’s an increase of 60 percent in three years.
"The other thing the club’s doing is re-classifying the Category A games. Again, a couple of years ago, there was eight other them.
"Now there’s another two - Brighton and Forest. Hiding behind Profit and Sustainability is winding up fans. How much do they spend on agents’ fees? We have one of the highest wage bills in Europe.
"Raising ticket prices isn’t going to bridge that gap."
Moreover, there are genuine concerns that the club is merely paying lip-service to supporters’ frustrations.
Those feelings were exacerbated when Chris Heck was in charge. Now that the American has left the position, it may have changed.
But there is clearly some work to do to convince the fanbase they are valued.
The supporter continued: "They have had a Fan Advisory Board for quite some time, but they are dismantling the current one which did have independent voices. And there isn’t any engagement. They’re presenting supporters with a fait accompli, rather than asking their opinions on matters.
"It’s not the job of a Fan Advisory Board to act as a communications’ conduit. It’s there to ask relevant questions."
Tyrone Mings Likely to get More Aston Villa Playing Time
The defender has agreed to stay until 2027
Tyrone Mings applauding Aston Villa fans
Tyrone Mings agreed a contract extension to 2027 - no doubt after a few well-chosen words from boss Unai Emery.
The England international has worked his way to full fitness during the past season following a harrowing time with a knee issue that he openly admitted he was struggling to overcome.
Mings spent weeks in rehabilitation in the United States to return from a knock he initially sustained during Villa’s opening game the season before last at Newcastle, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Tyrone Mings Aston Villa Statistics 2024-25
He had been eased carefully back into the first-team reckoning but had lost his place in the side to Pau Torres on several occasions.
He was less than happy to miss out in the semi-final of the FA Cup to his Spanish rival, but with only 12 months remaining on a deal, it represents good business for Villa.
Mings said it had been ‘quite the journey’ upon details of his fresh agreement were released.
But with the England international having been on the radar of a few clubs - Leeds United were one of them - the bonus of Villa being back in the Europa League and the additional workload that will be put on the players means the 32-year-old should receive ample game time next season.
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