Aston Villa have two of the best center backs in the Premier League in Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa, both of whom have proven themselves as stars on an international level.
But only one of them is healthy for the foreseeable future, as Torres suffered a fractured metatarsal about a week ago, leaving Aston Villa shorthanded entering the new year.
Hence why Aston Villa are being linked to potential center back transfer targets. Their need in central defense may be increased by their own doing, though, as the Lions are close to making a high-profile sale.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Aston Villa are confident that they will finally be able to offload Brazilian central defender Diego Carlos, whom they tried hard to sell last year.
Aston Villa believe they will be able to send the former Sevilla star to Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce for around 10 million pounds, which is a solid chunk of change for an unwanted veteran player – money they can use to fund the signing of a better center back.
Diego Carlos was a top player in LaLiga next to Jules Kounde, which is why Unai Emery brought him in to give Aston Villa some added defensive firepower. Now that he is getting older, Carlos is too slow to be relied on in the Premier League, making Jose Mourinho’s Super Lig side a more ideal location for him to end his career.
Selling Carlos is a no-brainer in the long run, but in the short-term, it only increases the need Aston Villa have at center back with Tyrone Mings the main option starting next to Ezri Konsa and precious little depth behind them.
Aston Villa are going to have to make a substantive signing in the January 2025 transfer mercato if this Diego Carlos deal with Fenerbahce does indeed go through.
