3 days ago
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Aston Villa are in talks to bring Villarreal defender Juan Foyth back to the Premier League, talkSPORT understands.
The Villans have turned their attention towards the 27-year-old after failing to prise Loic Bade away from Sevilla.
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Villa had been keen on signing the 24-year-old in a potential £25million transfer, only for the Frenchman to snub a move to the Midlands.
Shutting down any talk of a January switch, Bade revealed on Saturday evening: "I’m staying at Sevilla, yes. I fully trust this project.”
As a result, Villa are now pressing ahead with a move to secure the services of ex-Tottenham centre-back Foyth.
It is believed that the Champions League contenders have submitted an official proposal in their quest to snap him up before the February 3 deadline.
Villa are in the market for a new centre-half having sold Diego Carlos to Fenerbahce in a £10million deal.
Meanwhile the club are currently without Pau Torres, who is set to be out until March after suffering a metatarsal fracture.
Foyth linked up at Spurs in 2017 from Estudiantes, but failed to make an impression during his time in north London.
He was limited to just 32 appearances in all competitions - with 16 of his outings coming in the Premier League.
Having fallen behind in the pecking order, he was shipped out on loan to Villarreal in 2020, where he became a key player under now-Villa boss Unai Emery.
Together, the pair helped the Yellow Submarine win their first major honour in the club's history - beating Manchester United in the Europa League final.
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Villarreal swiftly turned his temporary stay in Spain into a permanent switch in 2021.
But he could now be heading back to England to link up with Emery.
talkSPORT understands that Emery is a huge admirer of the 2022 World Cup winner and is pressing for a reunion at Villa Park.
And should the deal materialise, he could once again form a partnership with Torres having spent three years with the player at Estadio de la Ceramica.
Despite being a popular figure amongst the club's fans, with just 18 months left on his contract, Foyth is facing an uncertain future.
And he will surely be desperate to make up for lost time having only made his long-awaited return to the pitch last month.
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Foyth spent a year on the sidelines having suffered a shoulder injury in December 2023, only to then pick up a knee knock against Nottingham Forest in pre-season.
After 12 months out, he made his first appearance of the campaign against Rayo Vallecano on December 18.
Now fully fit, he has featured in four out of Villrreal's last five matches - starting twice.
