Portuguese giants SL Benfica are keen on acquiring the services of Aston Villa defensive midfielder Enzo Barrenechea.
According to a report from Mais Futebol, SL Benfica are plotting a raid on Aston Villa for the signature of Enzo Barrenechea. The Argentine midfielder is not a part of Unai Emery’s plans moving ahead, and the Premier League club are willing to sanction his departure.
Barrenechea made a move to the Birmingham-based club from Juventus last summer for around €8 million as part of the deal that saw Douglas Luiz move the other way for big money. While they did add him to their squad, Emery didn’t have him in his plans for the 2024/25 season.
As a result, without making any first-team appearances, the 24-year-old was shipped to Valencia on a season-long loan deal. He ended up featuring in 33 matches for the Spanish club and even contributed towards three goals.
Benfica keen on signing Barrenechea
While the Argentine midfielder did a decent job, it hasn’t helped him break into Emery’s plans for next season. Villa are ready to sanction his departure if the right offer arrives. SL Benfica have emerged as a potential destination for the former Juventus star.
The Portuguese outfit are looking for more quality and depth in the centre of the park. They are massive admirers of Barrenechea and believe he could be an ideal fit for their project. He is well regarded by Benfica, and they could make him a top target for the summer, depending on Florentino’s future.
He has attracted a lot of interest from across Europe with his consistent performances, and if the 25-year-old defensive midfielder ends up leaving the club, they could go all out to secure the Villa star’s services.
While Emery’s team are ready to cash in on him, they would certainly want to recoup the money they had invested to sign him, if not more. Meanwhile, multiple Spanish clubs are after his signature; as a result, Benfica certainly won’t find it easy to win the race for him.