Damian Vidagany is fueling rumors of a €60m summer move to Aston Villa

Aston Villa director of football operations Damian Vidagany was in attendance at Villarreal’s recent La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano – just days after fresh rumors of interest in Alex Baena, it has been revealed.

Vidagany joined as a key member of Villa’s backroom staff when Unai Emery joined the club at the end of 2022, then continued in his aforementioned role when Monchi entered the fray in last year’s reshuffle. As well as having nine years of previous experience with Valencia, his past work meant he was highly regarded for his commercial and communication skills.

And now it seems his latest scouting activity has taken him back to his homeland, as Spanish publication AS claim to have spotted him in the stands at La Ceramica as the hosts beat Rayo Vallecano 3-0 on Sunday, 28 April.

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Why he was there remains unknown. The report suggests he has a “close relationship” with the club and could simply pay them a visit, but insists such a trip is “not usual” for the Villa boss.

More interestingly, this revelation comes within days of fresh transfer rumors linking the West Midlands club with a sensational raid on Emery’s former club for highly-rated talent Baena.

The 22-year-old was given his top-flight Spanish debut by Emery while both were with the Yellow Submarine in July 2020. He went on to make 112 appearances and in the 2023/24 campaign is the division’s assists leader . .

The rumor suggested that Emery had ‘given the green light’ to reunite with the creative midfielder and given the relationship between the two clubs, a deal in the ballpark of £25.7m could be reached – 34.2 million pounds. His contract, which runs until 2028, contains a £51.4m release clause.

AS’ latest update on this story strengthens the case that a summer deal could be on the way, as they add that from the player’s side, his relationship with Emery remains strong. It would take a “high-profile operation” to prize Baena away from Villarreal, and at this stage Villa and Barcelona have been heavily linked heading into the next transfer window.

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