Aston Villa will not spend anything above £60m to sign La Liga star

Aston Villa are in the midst of a determined pursuit to secure the services of Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix. The West Midlands club is pushing the Spanish giants to lower their asking price for the Portuguese forward to between £50 million and £60 million, as they prepare for their upcoming season.

Villa's recent £50 million sale of Moussa Diaby to Al Ittihad has provided the club with the financial flexibility to reinvest in a top-tier replacement like Felix. Manager Unai Emery is the driving force behind Villa's interest in the 24-year-old forward, having expressed his desire to sign Felix last year when it seemed unattainable.

Emery envisions Felix as the perfect fit for the number 10 role behind striker Ollie Watkins, aligning with the player's preferred playing style. Although Felix has often been deployed on the wing in recent years, Emery believes he can thrive in a more central position.

Atletico Madrid are keen to offload Felix this summer to recoup part of the £113 million they spent to acquire him from Benfica in 2019. Villa are open to negotiating a loan deal with an option or obligation to buy Felix, depending on the fee. Club sources maintain that Villa are in a strong financial position, and are exploring all possible avenues to bring Felix to Villa Park.

Despite other offers this summer, including a new approach from Saudi Arabia and interest from his former loan club Barcelona, Felix has his sights set on a move to Villa. Financial constraints make it unlikely that Barca can match Villa's offer, as their priority seems to be Nico Williams.

Felix's career has hit a rough patch in recent years, with loan spells at Chelsea and Barcelona where he struggled for consistency. However, he still managed to score 10 goals and provide six assists in all competitions last season. Reports suggest that Felix has fallen out with Atletico manager Diego Simeone and is currently training alone, signalling his impending exit.

Villa have already spent over £100 million this summer but have balanced this with significant player sales, including Douglas Luiz and Diaby's departure. The potential sale of Jhon Duran, who is valued at £40 million and wanted by West Ham, could further fund their pursuit of Felix.

Villa had previously shown interest in Felix during the January 2023 transfer window, but the player prioritised Champions League football at the time. With Villa now offering that platform, the club is hopeful of securing his signature.