Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive brings you what is being said about a player Villa only signed last summer
Enzo Barrenechea
Enzo Barrenechea(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Aston Villa midfielder Enzo Barrenechea is attracting interest from Benfica amid ongoing speculation over his future.
Barrenechea spent last season on loan at Valencia after signing from Juventus last summer but has returned to Villa to find himself centre of increased interest in his availability.
A number of La Liga clubs are keen on the 24-year-old, but according to reports in Portugal, Benfica are the latest club to show interest.
Villa are approaching the window with care having made just the one signing so far with young Turkish defender Yasin Ozcan their only arrival.
The club will no doubt be looking at incomings and outgoings with Leon Bailey reportedly attracting the attention of Turkish side Fenerbache.
Barrenechea could also head for the exit, with Benifica said to be considering him as a replacement for Florentino.
Should he leave, Portuguese outlet Mais Futebol reports that Barrenechea is moving up their list of potential targets.
Real Betis have also expressed an interest, but the finances required to complete a deal make that a difficult move.
It is said that Villa would be willing to sell for the right price as long as their demands are met having paid a reported £6.7m for him last summer.
Valencia are also monitoring the situation, given the player's performances in Spain, but it is likely that it would be a loan deal.
That would only be possible if Villa do not sell Barrenechea, who has made only one appearance for the club so far.
Everyday, the BirminghamLive football desk strive to deliver all manner of news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Aston Villa content.
Our dedicated reporter John Townley - who you can follow on X by clicking here - follows Villa home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.
So much happens day to day and sometimes you can struggle to keep on top of the very latest updates as and when they occur - that's why we have produced a daily newsletter which you can sign up to, for free, and which means you'll have a round-up of the key stories land in your email inbox. Sign up to the Villa newsletter here.
You can also get all your favourite content from BirminghamLive's Villa team on WhatsApp. Click here to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories in and around the club.
If you prefer reading our Villa stories on your phone, consider downloading the BirminghamLive app, in which you can personalise the content you see by selecting Villa as one of your designated topics. You can get it from Apple here and for Android here.
Our weekly Aston Villa podcast, Claret And Blue, is also available to watch and listen on all major streaming services. You can subscribe to the YouTube channel here, while you can access the podcast on Spotify here and via Apple here.