Aston Villa are moving with intent to sign a Premier League star, with a generous salary package believed to already be on the table, according to a report this week.
Villa on verge of Champions League return as Emery makes plans
Villa's season has been one of the most encouraging stories in English football this year and Emery is determined to build on it.
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Fourth in the Premier League, five points clear of the chasing pack with seven games to play, Champions League qualification is firmly in their own hands.
Secure it, and the summer that follows could be transformative — European revenue unlocking a level of recruitment ambition that would have seemed far-fetched just a few years ago.
The planning is already well underway.
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Villa have already held talks over Fulham winger Harry Wilson as he enters the final few months of his contract at Craven Cottage, while PSG sensation Ibrahim Mbaye is also being seriously considered by Emery's side.
The ambition at Villa Park is clear and real.
And now, according to Italy's Corriere dello Sport, they have made 'concrete moves' in the defensive market too — entering the race for one of the most coveted free agents in European football.
Aston Villa make high salary offer to Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi
Marcos Senesi will leave Bournemouth at the end of this season.
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The Argentine centre-back has rejected multiple contract extension offers from the Vitality Stadium — at least four by various accounts — and director of football Tiago Pinto has publicly confirmed the departure, with no future at the club for the 28-year-old.
He will walk away for nothing when his four-year deal expires in June.
The Corriere dello Sport report that Villa have moved concretely in their pursuit, putting a 'higher salary' package and significant bonuses on the table that could prove decisive.
Borussia Dortmund are understood to have made similarly serious approaches, and both clubs are now in a position where their offer could tip the balance.
Sunderland's Eliezer Mayenda in action with AFC Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi
Juventus, who have been in talks with Senesi's camp for several weeks, now face genuine and credible competition.
Roma have also made enquiries, further crowding a race that reportedly also involves Barcelona, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, Atletico Madrid and even Sunderland.
Senesi is reportedly seeking a contract in the region of up to £4 million per season — a figure that is firmly within the range Villa would be able to offer, particularly with Champions League football on the horizon.
AFC Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi in action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Yerson Mosquera
The left-footed defender brings composure on the ball, aerial authority and consistent top-flight experience — precisely the defensive profile Emery could be looking to add to his backline.
Senesi has been a rock for Bournemouth since arriving from Feyenoord in 2022, missing barely a game this season with an average Sofascore rating of 7.19 — among the best in the division for a centre-back.
He has grown into one of the most reliable defenders in the Premier League and his availability at no transfer cost makes this one of the most attractive pieces of business available anywhere in Europe this summer.
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