Aston Villa are exploring a move for Barcelona prospect Hector Fort, though the Catalan giants are hesitant about letting him leave.
Villa show interest in FortBarcelona reluctant to sellPlayer shares agent with EmeryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Villa have approached Barcelona about signing young full-back Fort. The move is driven by manager Unai Emery and sporting director Monchi, who both have a strong track record of targeting Spanish talent. Fort and Emery are also represented by the same agency, potentially making negotiations smoother.
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Villa are are looking to reinforce at full-back with Andres Garcia likely to leave after struggling for minutes. However, financial restrictions following a UEFA fine mean any Fort deal would have to be low-cost, possibly a loan. Monchi’s summer spending has been limited to €37 million (£31m/$41m), splashing €30m (£26m/$33m) on striker Evann Guessand and €7m on Turkish centre-back Yasin Ozcan, who was immediately loaned to Anderlecht. Barcelona, meanwhile, value Fort highly and see him as part of their future plans, making them unwilling to sanction a permanent sale.
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The 19-year-old has drawn interest from several clubs, including Paris FC and Mallorca, though the latter’s offer was not convincing. The Catalan giants would consider a loan or structured transfer keeping a high percentage of his rights and a buy-back clause, in line with their recent approach to youth talent. For Fort, guaranteed playing time will be key in deciding his next move.
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Fort is expected to make a decision on his future next week, weighing offers from across Europe. If Villa push ahead, they will need to convince Barcelona of a deal that preserves the Catalan club’s long-term stake in the player.
