Unai Emery's stance on Joao Felix transfer as Aston Villa boss targets 'special player'

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes Joao Felix is a 'special player', sparking rumours of a potential summer transfer for the Portuguese forward.

With Jhon Duran likely to exit Villa this summer and Moussa Diaby having departed for Saudi Arabia, there is a significant gap in Villa's attack that needs filling. Emery, who has long been an admirer of Felix, is keen on bringing the 24-year-old on board to bolster Villa's attack and provide Ollie Watkins support for the upcoming season.

Atletico Madrid are reportedly open to selling Felix, and the player himself is eager to move on due to a strained relationship with Diego Simeone. Despite returning to Atletico for pre-season training, Felix is training alone.

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The Spanish side are believed to be holding out for around $64m (£50m/€59m) for Felix, who they signed from Benfica for $145m (£113m/€126m) five years ago. After three full seasons under Simeone, Felix moved to Chelsea on loan during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

During his stint with Chelsea, where he sought Champions League football, Felix scored four goals in 16 appearances. Villa showed interest at the time, but Emery conceded last year that the club stood little chance of signing him.

"He’s a special player. It was not totally impossible for us (to sign him), but he wanted to play for a team in the Champions League," Emery said in March 2023 .

"We are realistic about how we can improve and how we can add players to improve our squad. He has a high salary and Chelsea paid a lot of money for that.

"I like him, but we were never really in the running for him. He can assist, score goals, drop deep to build up and he can play in the small spaces and drive into the box. He’s special.

"Our idea is to reduce the distance between them (a club such as Chelsea) and to get closer to them in one, two or three years. Spending money like they did? No! But trying to be consistent and get there another way in our work.”

Now that Villa can offer Champions League football, it automatically makes them a more attractive proposition for Felix. But judging by Emery's previous comments, Villa won't be paying above the odds to secure him. Felix spent last season on loan at Barcelona, where he scored 10 goals and registered six assists in all competitions.

Liverpool.com says: At 24, it still feels like we haven't seen Felix reach the potential many have expected of him. He has been regularly linked with Liverpool over the years, but now he feels like a player the Reds wouldn't take a risk on.

He would be an exciting signing for Villa though, and more evidence of the fine work Emery is doing there.. With the Champions League to contend with this time, it'll be interesting to see whether they can compete for the top four again.