Aston Villa deal gets Romano ‘here we go’ after Emery CONFIRMS replacement

Robin Bairner

• 20 Jan 2025 05:50 CST
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has announced that Aston Villa centre-back Diego Carlos will sign for Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, paving the way for the Premier League side to secure an upgrade in that area of the field.

Diego Carlos’ move to the Super Lig club is a transfer that has been in the making for several days now, giving Aston Villa ample time to size up Sevilla centre-back Loic Bade as the Brazilian’s replacement in their rearguard.

Villa are set to part with the 31-year-old, who had 18 months left to run on his contract, for a fee of €10 million – well above his €4.4m Estimated Transfer Value (ETV).

Current ETV

Diego Carlos

D (C)

Aston Villa

Diego Carlos

D (C)

Aston Villa

€4.4M

ETV Range

€3.3M - €5.4M

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Romano tweeted: “Diego Carlos to Fenerbahce, here we go! Deal in place with Aston Villa as Brazilian defender will fly to Istanbul tonight.

“Transfer fee expected to be in excess of €10m with Aston Villa keen on Loic Bade as replacement.”

Loic Bade to act as Diego Carlos upgrade

Bade will follow in Diego Carlos’ steps in leaving for Sevilla to Villa Park should Unai Emery’s side get the deal over the line.

While the in-form Premier League outfit paid €31m for Diego Carlos, it is likely that they will get Bade for a substantially smaller fee. Sevilla are in financial difficulties, and while the centre-back has a release clause of €60m, something in the region of €24m is likely to head to the Spaniards.

For Villa, this would represent a bargain. Bade’s Estimated Transfer Value stands at €27.5m.

The former Rennes defender, meanwhile, currently plays at a higher standard than Diego Carlos, so while the Birmingham side will be making a net spend of roughly €14m in these two deals, they will boast a stronger defensive unit as a result.

Emery, meanwhile, has previously confirmed that any player leaving the club this month will be replaced.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal, he said: “In case someone is leaving we will have to sign another player to replace him.”

So for Aston Villa, it’s increasingly looking like Diego Carlos out and Loic Bade in.