On summer deadline day, Aston Villa allowed Enzo Barrenechea to join Valencia on loan, a month after having signed him from Juventus.
The midfielder has made 20 appearances for the La Liga side and has enjoyed regular minutes since Carlos Corberán took charge last December.
Barrenechea’s form has improved under Corberán and even assisted Umar Sadiq’s winner against Real Valladolid at the weekend.
Journalist Toni Hernández, writing in his column for Deporte Valenciano, talks about the possibility of buying the Aston Villa man.
He states: ‘There have been meetings about the follow-up of the loan, all parties are comfortable, but the problem is the same as always.’
The problem is the money needed to buy him. Hernández asked whether Los Ches can buy the Argentine for €6.5m. When answering his own question, he stated there are several ‘open questions’ in a case that’s ‘not at all simple’.
Valencia are 16th in the table, a point above 18th placed Deportivo Alavés. They have to continue in La Liga first before trying to retain the Aston Villa owned player.
If Valencia avoid relegation, they have to then find out if €7.5m is enough to convince the Villans, considering they paid a little more than that.
Key will be where Barrenechea wants to play next season. The journalist suggests he would prefer to continue at Valencia if Unai Emery don’t consider him key for next season.
Hernández insists another season on loan without a purchase option would be ruled out.
To sum it up, it’s unclear whether Barrenechea will extend his stay and there needs to be clarity on several factors.