Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during a lap of honour after the match
Aston Villa have already rebuilt much of their midfield this summer, but Unai Emery now wants one of Barcelona’s brightest young talents to complete the job.
Villa entered the window from a position of success after beating Freiburg to win the Europa League and end their long wait for a major trophy.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, Emiliano Martinez and Matty Cash celebrate after winning the UEFA Europa League
That triumph also secured Champions League football, but Emery has since watched several important players leave Villa Park.
Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea for a mammoth £117 million, while Youri Tielemans moved to Man United for around £36 million. Donyell Malen, Enzo Barrenechea and Lucas Digne have also departed during a major squad reshuffle.
Villa have not stood still, though.
Joao Gomes arrived from Wolves, bringing Premier League experience and ball-winning tenacity, while Johan Manzambi also joined from Freiburg after an outstanding World Cup for Switzerland, giving Emery another powerful and flexible midfield option.
Yet neither player offers exactly the same qualities as Marc Bernal.
REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
The 19-year-old is a natural holding midfielder who has been developed to control possession from the base of Barcelona’s midfield.
Standing at 6 foot 3, Bernal is unusually tall for a La Masia graduate, but his game is still built around pure technique.
Bernal joined Barça’s academy at six and rose quickly through the age groups. He made 31 appearances and scored two goals for Barcelona B, convincing Hansi Flick to eventually include him in the senior squad.
He immediately looked comfortable.
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Bernal started their opening three league games of the 2024/25 season before suffering a ruptured ACL and meniscus damage.
The injury kept him out for 383 days and could easily have slowed his progress permanently.
Instead, he returned against Valencia in September 2025 and created a goal only minutes after coming from the bench.
Barcelona rewarded that recovery with a contract until 2029. His deal also includes a £428 million release clause, showing just how strongly the Spanish champions value his future.
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Last season proved he had moved beyond the injury.
Bernal made 33 appearances and bagged five goals across all competitions, helping Barça retain their La Liga crown, and that progress has attracted attention from England.
Emery asks Aston Villa to sign Marc Bernal from Barcelona
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
The Sun now reports that Emery has personally asked Villa to sign Bernal and considers the teenager his leading transfer target.
Villa are described as leading the race and are preparing an offer worth around £30 million to test Barca’s determination to keep him.
Man City have also made an enquiry, but the report claims they were told Bernal was not available under the proposed conditions.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United and Atlético Madrid have also been credited with interest, while Barça have reportedly rejected approaches worth around £25 million.
The biggest obstacle by far is Barca’s stance.
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Bernal is regarded as a major part of their long-term plans and has been described as untouchable. His contract means the club face no pressure to sell, while Frenkie de Jong’s injury could create an even larger role for him this season.
Villa can offer money, Champions League football and a manager with a proven record of developing players.
But leading the race does not mean winning it, and while Emery has made his request clear, Villa must now convince the Catalans to release a midfielder they believe could anchor their team for the next decade and perhaps even longer.