Unai Emery says that Aston Villa works hard to sign a replacement for Diego Carlos before closing the transfer window.
The Brazilian defender joined Fenerbahce for 8.5 million pounds sterling earlier this week, leaving Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings as the only central defenders of Villa while Pau Torres remains with a foot injury.
Emery wants to add another central defender before the deadline on Monday, the club would have been in talks to sign the Baden Loic de Sevilla.
“We are ready to try to improve the team until the last moment, and we are also open in case someone left,” he said before Sunday’s match in West Ham.
“Of course, Diego Carlos left last week, and we have to replace him, and of course, we also focus on which players could be potential players to replace Diego Carlos.”
New Villa Signer in Garcia a “good opportunity”
Villa recently signed the right back of 21 years Andres Garcia, the Spaniard becoming their second acquisition in January after the arrivals of Donyell Malen of Borussia Dortmund.
On Garcia, Emery said: “He is a young right, potential and potential player. He progressed so quickly and I knew him before. I know how he was also going, as a person.
“We decided to sign it because we thought it was a good opportunity, just at the moment, a very good opportunity, how he is progressing so quickly in his career.
“And of course, being a young potential player, we are not in a hurry with him.
“I hope that with Andres Garcia, we can progress quickly in his adaptation and how he can understand everything in the Premier League on the level we have.”
Villa injury News: McGinn returns
Unai Emery provided the latest fitness updates out of four of our first team players ⤵️
– Aston Villa (@AvfCofficial) January 24, 2025
Emery confirmed that Captain John McGinn should be available for Sunday’s home game at Villa Park after three games with an injury to the hamstrings.
“John McGinn is starting to train with the group, he works with us,” said Emery.
“”[Amadou] Onana is still working alone.
“Ross Barkley is still not available and Pau [Torres] will need more time to try to be close to us. »»
