Aston Villa transfer latest as new name emerges in defender hunt

Aston Villa transfer latest as new name emerges in defender hunt
Joseph Chapman
3 minutes

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Levante defender Andres Garcia, as Monchi and Unai Emery look to strengthen their defence in this January transfer window. Garcia is a right-back who currently operates in the second division in Spain with the Valencian club and who has been catching the eye with a string of performances, especially recently.

Garcia, who is 21, is a routine pick for Levante and has begun to deliver in the final third in recent weeks, too; since the end of November he has contributed three goals and produced two assists, helping his side up into fifth in La Liga 2 and with an ambition of returning to La Liga by the end of the season.

Villa are weighing up whether to loan out teenage defender Kosta Nedeljkovic, who they signed last January from Red Star Belgrade, this month in order to source more first-team minutes having found Matty Cash blocking his route to the Villa first-team. Garcia, though, has reportedly been identified as a defender with a big future who could be recruited this month.

Villa spent last January looking to the future, with the signings of Nedeljkovic, Morgan Rogers, Joe Gauci and Lino Sousa. This month they’re expected to complete the signing of Turkish prodigy Yasin Ozcan from Kasimpasa for almost £7m and continue that trend of acting prudently in the winter market. Garcia would fall into a similar category.

Reports suggest that the player has a €12m release clause and that has also attracted the interest of Sporting Lisbon in Portugal and Spanish top flight sides Real Betis and Sevilla – although any suitor would have to stump up a fair bit more if Garcia were to help Levante to promotion at the end of the season. Moving for him this month, then, would be shrewd.
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