Aston Villa are currently in the middle of a number of discussions regarding both potential incomings and outgoings.
The Villans qualified for the Champions League last season, so they need to bolster their ranks to cope with the additional workload.
In addition, Villa also have to be mindful of profit and sustainability rules, so they are likely to sell a few players in order to help balance the books.
Over the past week or so, the Villans have been in talks with both Juventus and Chelsea regarding players who could be going in either direction.
Fabrizio Romano has now provided an update on X which includes an interesting development about a midfielder who has been likened to Rodri.
Aston Villa advancing in talks with Enzo Barrenechea
Earlier on Wednesday, Romano spoke of how Villa have turned their attentions to a number of potential Weston McKennie alternatives.
One of those is Enzo Barrenechea, and Romano has now reported that the Villans are advancing in talks with the 23-year-old midfielder.
The transfer insider claimed that Villa are now working on both the Douglas Luiz swap deal and on personal terms for Ian Maatsen.
Luiz “strongly wants Juventus”, while talks are advancing with both Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior in a deal that would see Villa also receive around £17million.
Who is Aston Villa target Barrenechea?
Enzo Barrenechea is an Argentine midfielder who can play at No. 6 and No. 8, and is on the books at Juventus.
The 23-year-old spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Frosinone, registering 39 appearances, including 36 in Serie A.
Barrenechea began his career at Newell’s Old Boys, Lionel Messi’s former club. He then moved to Swiss outfit Sion in 2019 before joining Juve’s academy a year later.
Former Juventus U19 coach Andrea Bonatti told Tuttomercatoweb earlier this year that Barrenechea is a “really strong” player.
He also said: “He’s no different from Rodri or (Sergio) Busquets, he’s a playmaker and can also play as a midfielder now he is much more complete.
“He can do well in the Juve context, he has the potential for that level, but he will have to confirm what he is doing and it is not easy to repeat himself.”