Aston Villa are eyeing Barcelona’s young right-back Héctor Fort this summer. Reports from MARCA in Spain suggested on Friday that the Villans have made contact for the player, and their intentions are clear.
MARCA and Mundo Deportivo stated that the 19-year-old fullback could be an attractive option for Villa, especially as he has already impressed Unai Emery. SPORT further claims that Villa have also spoken to his agent, who coincidentally also represents Emery, about speeding up the deal. This could make the process easier as both Villa director Monchi and the manager see Fort as important.
The latest report from SPORT has come as a relief to Emery and Aston Villa. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and club officials believe they have enough options on the right-back position, and that is why they plan to let Fort leave in this window. It also emerged that the 19-year-old and his representatives have understood the La Liga club’s intentions for the past few weeks.
Flick further increased the possibility of his departure by leaving the Spaniard out of the squad against RCD Mallorca. Barcelona reportedly could have registered him in the reserve team, but they closed that door as well. Their goal is to sell him for around €5m, although things currently suggest he could be sent out on loan. Mallorca and Paris FC have shown interest but have not yet made a concrete move. The whole scenario opens the door for Aston Villa.
Will Héctor Fort be the right player for Villa?
The question now is whether Fort will be the right fit for Aston Villa if they take advantage of this opportunity. The Barcelona right-back’s biggest strength is his technical simplicity and composure. He doesn’t panic in the ups and downs of the pitch and is constantly in charge of positional awareness.
He may be young, but his passing and decision-making show maturity. Emery needs players who can provide stability in defence and width in attack, and Fort fits the role. Villa need a reliable right-back in the fast-paced Premier League, and Fort could fill that void for the long term. In our opinion, if the deal comes together on the right terms, it could be a win-win for both club and player.
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