Aston Villa are reportedly the most interested party when it comes to signing Real Madrid veteran Nacho Fernandez this summer, according to reports in Spain.
Aston Villa are reportedly keen to strengthen their defence once more this summer, with news reported in Spain suggesting that Unai Emery is a fan of Real Madrid centre-back Nacho Fernandez.
The subject of defenders is a sore topic of conversation in the Midlands at the moment, with Villa’s back line dropping like flies throughout the course of the 2023/24 calendar.
Pau Torres, Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Lucas Digne, Matty Cash and Alex Moreno have all faced injury concerns during the campaign, leaving Emery having to change and adapt his defence multiple times.
News of Villa’s reported interest in Nacho is an interesting prospect for the Premier League side, who have benefitted heavily from adding depth to their back line in the summer of 2023.
What reports in Spain have said about Nacho Fernandez to Aston Villa
According to the Spanish news outlet Mas Fichajes, the Villans are one of the clubs interested in the Real Madrid veteran.
Having played for Los Blancos since the age of 10, Nacho epitomises the meaning of a one-club man, with his future now uncertain as he enters the final few months of his current contract.
As reported by Mas Fichajes, Villa are the team that are ‘most interested’ in the Spaniard, with speculation claiming that the club have been in contact with the player’s agent over an ‘offer for two seasons’.
The understanding in Spain is that retirement is not an option for the 34-year-old, with the report saying that, ‘the coach [Emery] seems to be convinced that his experience would be good for the club’.
Why signing Nacho Fernandez would be a good idea for Villa
While everything remains purely as speculation at present, the reports coming out of Emery’s home country make for interesting reading for the Villans.
Adding a five-time Champions League winner with 457 appearances for Real Madrid is never a bad idea, particularly when considering how similar deals have worked for Villa and other Premier League clubs.
A free transfer could present Villa Park with an incredibly decorated player, whose presence would bolster the squad based on his experience alone, swiping a huge talent for no cost, as they did with Boubacar Kamara.
You can’t buy experience, but you can buy quality and in Nacho Fernandez, Emery could secure both, with the 34-year-old previously lauded as being “always reliable” and “always dependable” by journalist Zach Lowy.
Signing a European veteran could be a wise move for the Villans, with the likes of Thiago Silva and Casemiro making similar moves to the Premier League to the benefit of their respective clubs.
