Aston Villa are reportedly not plotting to launch the offensive for talented Levante full-back Marc Pubill this summer, but they might consider him a potential target in the future.
According to a report from Spanish outlet Super Deporte, Aston Villa sporting director Monchi rates Marc Pubill highly. But there are no transfer talks taking place at this moment in time as the Villains are not anticipated to make a move for him in the ongoing transfer window.
This comes after widespread reports that Villa are in talks with Levante to sign Pubill, who is under contract until 2026 with the Spanish second-tier side and is said to have been valued at €6 million.
Signing for Levante back in 2020, the 20-year-old quickly earned the trust of the club, impressing in the Under-19 side to gain promotion to the first squad in the summer of 2021. During the 2021/22 La Liga campaign, the Spaniard made 11 appearances in the Spanish top flight, although his breakthrough was not enough to stop his side from suffering relegation.
Levante’s relegation in 2022 proved a blessing in disguise for the youngster, as it handed him the chance to earn consistent game time in the Spanish Segunda Division. The right-back racked up 31 appearances across the league and cup competitions.
However, Levante failed to win instant promotion back to La Liga. They finished third in the second tier but failed to make it through the playoffs successfully. Pubill, though, appears to have done enough to earn a move to the top division amid interest from a fair few La Liga clubs. There have also been various claims in recent days that he could be a target for Aston Villa.
However, in the latest update, Super Deporte claims that while Pubill ticks a number of boxes to fit into Emery’s system, the Midlands outfit have not advanced their initial interest to the point of making a formal offer, despite the conjecture that Levante may be forced to sell the defender for a cut-price fee due to their perilous financial condition.
Instead, they view him as a possible longer-term target, as it is not an area of the squad that needs addressing urgently. It’s understood that Emery has enough strength and depth in that role at his disposal for the upcoming campaign. Matty Cash is the established starting right-back, while Ezri Konsa’s versatility means he can also be deployed there at times or even with the depth provided by Calum Chambers.
Regardless, Villa heads into the new Premier League season full of confidence. Not only have they got European football to look forward to this term, but manager Unai Emery has significantly bolstered his team with smart, forward-thinking additions.
Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby, and Youri Tielemans all arrived earlier this summer to boost Villa’s first team, providing the quality that makes them one of the favourites to win the Europa Conference League next season.
