Aston Villa make ambitious transfer plans on Champions League return as Barcelona star targeted: report

Unai Emery Aston Villa manager at Villa Park Birmingham
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Aston Villa are in an exciting period, as the Birmingham club prepares to bolster its squad for a first crack at Europe’s top competition in 42 years.

Unai Emery’s side were the story of the season in the Premier League, finishing as the best of the rest in fourth ahead of Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United.

Aston Villa had a run to the Europa Conference League semi-finals thrown in for good measure, but now they are preparing for a crack at the Champions League in 2024/25.

Diego Carlos of Aston Villa in action during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa at Vitality Stadium on August 06, 2022 in Bournemouth, England.

Carlos could be sacrificed this summer (Image credit: Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

Ambitious plans are taking shape to bolster the squad, with Spanish outlet Sport writing that Emery and sporting director Monchi are targeting Barcelona defender Ronaldo Araujo. 

The Villa pair recently visited the Catalan city and let Barca know of their intention to make a formal bid for the Uruguay international if they reached the Champions League. 

Now that goal has been achieved, Villa could press on in their ambitious swoop, but they may have to sell Diego Carlos first. 

Aston Villa target Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona reacts during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on August 13, 2023 in Getafe, Spain.

Araujo is on the radar of the Midlanders (Image credit: Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

The Telegraph reports that Villa will consider selling the Brazilian as they look to bring in some funds to help bolster their squad.

Carlos has two years left on his contract and brings home around £100,000 a week, so the Villans are open to the idea of cashing in on the 31-year-old while they can, with AC Milan among the possible suitors. 

The former Sevilla defender, valued at £13 million by Transfermarkt, was a key player for Emery in 2023/24, making 38 appearances in all competitions.

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Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.