Aston Villa Interested in £15m Midfielder: Why Should Emery Give Up?
Aston Villa is interested in recruiting Mateo Kovacic from Manchester City, but there are many concerns about the player's value and suitability for the squad after an unsuccessful season.
Aston Villa is targeting Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic. The 2025/26 season really did not go well for the 32-year-old when Pep Guardiola only gave him one appearance in the Premier League, forcing him to sit on the bench. With his current contract set to expire in June 2027, City want to collect a reasonable fee now rather than lose him for nothing. The two teams have clearly shown interest. Nottingham Forest see this experienced player as an ambitious signing to strengthen their struggling midfield. Aston Villa are also watching, but Unai Emery's team is fighting with very different goals when it comes to the opportunity to participate in top European football in the future.
Buying Kovacic does not seem reasonable for Villa. Emery just led this team to a fantastic fourth place. To build further, the recruitment team needs sharp, future-oriented upgrades, not stars on the decline. Villa's current midfield includes Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Ross Barkley, so the position is already crowded. City want around £15m for Kovacic. Furthermore, he also carries a high salary burden that will disrupt Villa's current salary structure. Spending money on a player who barely played last season is an unwise decision. Kovacic lacks the physicality and energy needed for Emery's fast transition style of play. The 40-game season needs players with endurance. Villa needs dynamic, aspirational assets. Kovacic has trophies from his time at Real Madrid and Chelsea, but his energy is running out. Instead of investing in temporary players, Roberto Olabe and the scouting team need to target younger players with high resale value. A name like Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall brings exactly the kind of energy Villa need. Spending significant resources on a player who is past his prime would be a major setback for a club hoping to qualify for the Champions League. Aston Villa needs to maintain discipline in the transfer market.
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