Unai Emery has already sent two of his seven Aston Villa signings this summer out on loan and a third now looks set to join them.
Lewis Dobbin was signed from Everton early in the transfer window before being sent on a season-long loan to West Brom almost immediately.
Samuel Iling-Junior has also been allowed to leave, with the 20-year-old returning to Serie A for the campaign as a year at Bologna has been deemed more beneficial for his development than being at Aston Villa.
Unai Emery was left with little choice but to sanction the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus in June in order to ensure Villa complied with Premier League spending rules and that negotiation saw Iling-Junior move in the opposite direction.
Enzo Barrenechea was the other Juve talent that made the move to Villa Park and he could also now be allowed to leave on loan.
- READ MORE: Who is Enzo Barrenechea? The Juventus gem likened to Rodri now included in Douglas Luiz swap deal
Enzo Barrenechea could be allowed to leave Aston Villa on loan this season
Barrenechea is one of three midfielders to have been signed so far this summer to help Villa fill the void left by Luiz’ exit.
The club spent £50 million to sign Amadou Onana from Everton, whilst Ross Barkley arrived from Luton Town for £5 million.
Onana has stared both of Villa’s games so far this season, whilst Barkley made his debut off the bench in the 2-0 defeat against Arsenal.
Barrenechea, meanwhile, has not made the match-day squad for either game and Emery could now allow the Argentine youngster to leave on loan.
That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who posted on X: “After Samuel Iling-Junior, also Enzo Barrenechea could leave Aston Villa on loan after joining as part of Douglas Luiz deal.
“Valencia are among clubs keen on Enzo Barrenechea loan move…Talks ongoing.”
Barrenechea Aston Villa loan exit makes sense for all parties
Whilst it may be disappointing for Villa fans to see three of their seven summer signings so far leave on loan, this could be a move that benefits everyone.
Barrenechea is highly-rated and was dubbed ‘one of the most intelligent midfield prospects in Italian football’ by analyst Ben Mattinson last season.
However, the 23-year-old has had just one season of regular senior football having suffered an ACL injury that halted his route to first-team football in 2021.
That experience came on loan at Frosinone last season, where the midfielder played 36 league games and was impressive despite relegation.
With Onana, Barkley, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and the currently-injured Boubacar Kamara all ahead of him at centre midfield, it is difficult to see how Barrenechea would get sufficient game time to continue his development at Villa Park this season.
Therefore, a loan move to Valencia where he will play at a high level can only be a good thing for Barrenechea, who can then return next summer ready to show Emery he can step up and secure a spot in the Villa midfield.
