Aston Villa ‘Open To Offers’ As Star Becomes ‘One Of The Main Options’ For Club
Aston Villa ‘Open to Offers’ as Spanish Clubs Circle Midfielder Enzo Barrenechea
Aston Villa are reportedly open to parting ways with Enzo Barrenechea this summer, with the Argentine midfielder now attracting serious attention from La Liga following a productive loan spell. The 24-year-old is said to have emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace Johnny Cardoso at Real Betis, who recently completed a move to Atletico Madrid.
According to Spanish outlet El Desmarque, Barrenechea is now regarded as a primary target for Betis as they seek midfield reinforcements. Aston Villa, despite sporting director Monchi’s previous praise of the player—describing him as “magnificent” following his season at Valencia—are believed to be willing to listen to offers. The Midlands club are reportedly looking to secure around €10 million for his services.
Barrenechea, who joined Villa from Juventus just last summer, has yet to make an appearance for the Premier League side. Almost immediately after his arrival, the club opted to loan him to Valencia, where he featured regularly and made a strong impression despite the club’s inconsistency in La Liga. His performances did not go unnoticed, and Valencia themselves are said to be interested in bringing him back for a second stint.
However, Real Betis appear to have the strongest interest at this stage, particularly in light of their recent midfield departure. Barrenechea’s versatility and composure in possession have made him an appealing option for Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini, who is now rebuilding the squad for the 2025/26 campaign.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are actively looking to trim their squad and generate funds as they navigate financial constraints related to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Offloading fringe players like Barrenechea—who remains on the periphery of Unai Emery’s plans—would contribute positively toward meeting those financial obligations ahead of the looming June 30th PSR deadline.
With Villa targeting reinforcements across the pitch this summer—including in attack and defence following the exits of loanees Marco Asensio, Marcus Rashford, and Axel Disasi—creating room in the squad is essential. Emery is aiming to strengthen ahead of their UEFA Champions League campaign, and generating funds through smart sales will be key.
Ultimately, Barrenechea could depart Villa Park without ever pulling on the claret and blue shirt in a competitive match. Still, his strong loan spell has ensured that Villa are in a healthy position to command a decent transfer fee should they decide to cash in.
Interest from both Betis and Valencia gives the Premier League club a measure of control in negotiations, and with a €10 million valuation, a deal could be struck in the coming weeks that benefits all parties involved.