Aston Villa's hopes of signing Joao Felix fade away

According to Portuguese news outlet 'Sport' Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix hasn't even considered the the option of signing for Aston Villa this summer. It is well known that Unai Emery is a big fan of the former Chelsea and Barcelona attacker with Fabrizio Romano claiming that Felix was the 'dream target' for the Villa boss.

However, it is believed that Felix has his heart set on a return to Barcelona where he spent last season on loan. Felix is out of favour at Atletico Madrid having fallen out with manager Diego Simeone. The Birmingham Mail claim that Emery has made a loan offer with the option of purchase at the end of said loan but Atletico are seeking an immediate permanent transfer. Barcelona are likely to make an offer soon, after Felix's former club Benfica quickly came and went from the proceedings.

It is believed that new Barca boss Hansi Flick is keen to see Felix return to the Nou Camp following a successful spell last season and a deal could be completed quickly as long as the German agrees to send a Barcelona player the other way.

Having lost Moussa Diaby to Al-Ittihad for a fee in the region of 60 million euros already this summer, Villa have been looking for a big name with Champions League experience and quality to replace him. Felix was the number one target but now Villa are going to have to look elsewhere. Juventus and Italy star Federico Chiesa is another name that has been mentioned and the Italian club could let him leave for a fee as low as £15 million.

The transfer situation regarding Colombian international Jhon Duran is now very much in the air once more after West Ham reportedly pulled out of a deal to sign him. The Hammers were unwilling to meet the £40 million valuation for the player and have instead made a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug. Unless an offer comes in from Saudi Arabia it looks likely Duran will now be staying at Villa heading into the new season. The idea of that has been received badly by Villa fans with the majority not wanting to see him play for the club again following a summer of poor professionalism. Unai Emery however has claimed the forward does still have a future at the club.

With only a couple of weeks to go until the start of the season the fans will be keen to see more additions to the squad following a run of poor results during the pre-season tour of the USA.

UTV