Aston Villa now in talks to sign £13m player Unai Emery has wanted since he replaced Steven Gerrard

TBR Football understand Aston Villa are now in talks to sign Juan Foyth – who Unai Emery has wanted ever since replacing Steven Gerrard.

The Villans are looking to sign a 💝new defender before the February 3rd transfer deadline.

TBR Football were told earlier this week that Aston Villa have abaꦕndoned a £30m deal to sign Loic Bade – after the Sevilla No.22 opted to stay in Spain♔.

Sources also state that Aston Villa made contact wit𝔍h Chelsea for Ax🎀el Disasi – 🌊the France international who Enzo Maresca wants to offload.

Now – however – TBR Football understand Aston Villa are progressing in talks to sign Juan Foyth from Villarreal, who has been a target for Unai Emery ever since the Spaniard replaced Steven Ge🎃rrard in October 2022.

Aston Villa in negotiations to sign Juan Foyth

Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent at TBR Football – has now been told that Villarreal h🎐ave given the Argentina international permission to leave after Monchi made an approach last week.

The Spaniard – ♏who is🐈 President of Football Operations at Villa Park – has been in regular contact with Villarreal for the last 12 months regarding Foyth, who has often come up during talks involving Alex Baena, another player Aston Villa admire.

It is even believed Emery often brought up the 27-year-old South American during discussions over bols✤tering the backline, and Villarreal are n🐠ow open to a deal.

Foyth – who Villarreal signed from Totte🍬nham for back in June 2021 – can play🌼 in either the centre of defence, or on the right.

How Unai Emery deployed Juan Foyth at Villarreal

Foyth made 74 appearances under Eꦗmery at Villarreal – more🐠 than the Argentine has made under any other manager.

Th🃏e 53-year-old primarily used the Villarreal No.8 as a right-back in Spain, deploying him there for crucial games, such as the UEFA Champiꦺons League semi-final clash against Liverpool in 2022, as well as the UEFA Europa League final victory over Manchester United in 2021.

Emery has – however – also used Foyth as a central defender, and in a holding midfield role, so the man born in La Plata would seemi♏ngly be a very useful utility 𒁃player for Aston Villa if Monchi can agree a deal.