Latest developments
- Aston Villa want to sign Juan Foyth from Villarreal.
- The Argentine spent three seasons at Tottenham Hotspur.
- The Villans' move for Sevilla's Loic Bade has broken down.
Whisper+ analysis
Authenticity (2.5/5): Villa chasing a CB
Aston Villa have turned their attentions to Villarreal defender Juan Foyth, after an unsuccessful attempt to bring in Loic Bade from Sevilla.
This comes from talkSPORT, never the most reliable in terms of transfer news, but Villa are widely known to be looking for defensive reinforcements this month.
Value (4/5): Undervalued or injury-prone?
World Cup and UEFA Europa League winner Foyth is under contract for another 18 months with the Yellow Submarine. Still only 27, his market value is just £6.3 million.
That is largely down to injuries which have dogged his career and reduced him to just four appearances this season.
Suitability (3.5/5): Emery wants to reunite
Making 120 appearances in Spain and 18 caps for Argentina suggest he has what it takes, but with just 32 Tottenham appearances in three years, is the physicality of the Premier League too much for him?
However, he was managed by Unai Emery at Villarreal and if Villa are interested, that is a huge vote of confidence for a versatile man who also has the ability to play at right-back.
Upgrade? (2/5): Needs must for Villa
Injury to Tyrone Mings has only exacerbated Villa's problems at the back. Letting Diego Carlos leave earlier this month is now looking like a bad decision, with Pau Torres and Kourtney Hause out.
Bringing Foyth in will help, but he is yet to hit 50 games at centre-back, while he is twice as experienced on the right, where Villa are well-served by Matty Cash and new arrival Andres Garcia.
Logic (2.5/5): Theory looks flawed
Replacing injured centre-backs with a player who is predominately a right-back and never too far from the treatment table looks concerning, but Emery's judgement will carry weight.
Back in the Villarreal team again, Foyth may prefer to stay put, rather than act as a stop-gap until Villa's injured players return to action.
Whisper+ verdict: 14.5/25
Mounting injuries, time running out and the Emery connection give this rumour some kick, but it's far from ideal.
