Damian Vidagany fuels rumours of €60m Aston Villa summer transfer

James Quinlan
·2-min read
Aston Villa President of Football Operations Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo ‘Monchi’ and director of football operations Damian Vidagany
Putting in the groundwork? Damian Vidagany (right) was recently spotted at the match of a player linked with a summer transfer to Aston Villa (Credit: Nick Potts/PA Wire.) -Credit:Nick Potts/PA Wire.


It has been revealed Aston Villa director of football operations Damian Vidagany was in attendance at Villarreal's recent La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano - days after fresh rumours of interest in Alex Baena.

Vidagany joined as a key member of Villa's backroom staff when Unai Emery joined the club in late 2022, then carried on in his aforementioned role when Monchi entered the fray in last year's reshuffle. As well as having nine years of prior experience with Valencia, past work meant he was highly regarded for his commercial and communications skills.

And now it appears his latest scouting work has taken him back to his homeland, as Spanish publication AS claim to have seen him in the stands of La Ceramica whilst the home side defeated Rayo Vallecano 3-0 on Sunday, April 28.

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Why he was there remains unknown. The report suggests he has 'a close relationship' with the club and could have just simply paid them a visit, but makes sure to state that such a trip is 'not usual' for the Villa chief.

More interestingly this revelation comes within days of fresh transfer rumours linking the West Midlands club with a sensational raid on Emery's former club for highly-rated talent Baena.

The 22-year-old was handed his Spanish top-flight debut by Emery whilst both were with the Yellow Submarine in July 2020. He has gone on to make 112 appearances and in the 2023/24 campaign leads the way for assists in the division.

The rumour suggested Emery had 'given the green light' to be reunited with the creative midfielder and given the relationship between the two clubs, a deal could be struck in the ball park of £25.7m-£34.2m. His contract, which runs through to 2028, reportedly contains a £51.4m release clause.

AS' latest update on this story bolsters the argument a summer deal could take place, as they add that from the player's side his relationship with Emery remains strong. It would take a 'high-calibre operation' to prise Baena from Villarreal, and at this stage it is Villa and Barcelona who have been closely linked heading towards the next transfer window.

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