Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos is reportedly open to a return to Sevilla, but the two clubs aren’t currently in negotiations over a transfer.
The 31-year-old joined us from the La Liga side in 2022, and he has since gone on to make 41 appearances for the club, having been ruled out for the majority of his first season with us due to injury.
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As Villa continue to try and compete across multiple fronts, Unai Emery will need quality competition and depth across his squad, and while Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa are his first-choice centre-half pairing when available, Carlos has played a key role for us when called upon.
However, after eyebrows were raised over some of his Instagram activity earlier this week, Gonzalo Tortosa of El Chiringuito TV has now reported that the representatives of the Villa defender have made it known that he is open to returning to Sevilla this summer.
Importantly though, it’s added that no contact or talks have been initiated between the two clubs to try and reach an agreement on a transfer at this stage, and so it remains to be seen if this situation develops in the coming days and Carlos edges towards the exit door.
The Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel has also reported that Carlos is attracting interest, with Fulham specifically named as one of the clubs potentially keen on a swoop.
What is clear for now though is that if the Brazilian centre-half was to leave, Villa would certainly have to replace him to ensure we have enough in that department to compete this season, as we don’t want to be left short in the event of injuries and suspensions.
With Tyrone Mings still working his way back from injury, it does put a lot of pressure and responsibility on Torres and Konsa, and so it will be interesting to see if there is a reshuffle in that area of the squad between now and the end of the transfer window.
Carlos has impressed at times and has produced some stand-out defensive performances to establish himself as an important part of our squad, but at 31 years of age and with the likelihood that he is on big wages and his injury history, the question may well be asked in the coming weeks if Villa can identify a younger option who can slot in and play the same role equally as effectively in the way that Emery demands.
