Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery is keen to sign Joao Felix at Aston Villa after Chelsea rejected the chance to turn his loan into a permanent deal.
Emery, who managed Arsenal in 2018-19 after Arsene Wenger left and before Mikel Arteta came in, has just led Villa into the Europa Conference League.
He is keen to strengthen the Premier League side before they return to Europe next term, and according to reports, he wants to sign Felix from Atletico Madrid.
Felix will not return to Chelsea next season – with new manager Mauricio Pochettino telling the club he is not part of his plans at Stamford Bridge.
Portugal international Felix struggled to impress during his spell in west London after he arrived on loan in the January transfer window.
However, that has not stopped Felix being linked to other clubs, with Manchester United believed to be considering a summer bid along with Newcastle United.
Villa are the latest team to express their interest in a move for the 23-year-old, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
Emery, meanwhile, says Villa qualifying for the Europa Conference League is just the first step in the club’s plan to return to the top table of European football.
‘We will be in Europe, which for me is very important,’ the Spaniard said. ‘It has given me a lot, it is fantastic. Historically this is a great team, we won the European Cup a long time ago but we can now try to improve and get an ambitious step ahead.
‘This is the first step. Europe adds more matches and more difficult moments but I like that. It is very important for us.’
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