La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly still interested in signing Amadou Onana, although signing the Aston Villa midfielder will not be straightforward.
According to a report by Spanish outlet MARCA, Amadou Onana remains the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Blaugrana wanted to sign the Belgian midfielder from Everton before he joined Aston Villa in a deal worth €60 million in the summer transfer window. However, Deco is still keen on signing him next year, although a deal will not be straightforward.
The Amadou Onana story
Amadou Onana has been one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League for the last 24 months. The player has represented clubs in Belgium, Germany, France, and England despite being only 23 years old. He rose in prominence during his spell with LOSC Lille before joining Everton in August 2022.
Onana was a solid performer for Everton in his two seasons at Goodison Park but wanted to join a bigger club in the summer transfer window. Several high-profile clubs, including Barcelona, showed interest in the youngster before Aston Villa signed him in a deal worth €60 million after UEFA Euro 2024 ended.
Manchester United also attempted a late hijack before the Belgian international joined Aston Villa. Meanwhile, he has been hot off the blocks for the West Midlands club, scoring two goals in three Premier League appearances thus far. However, the former Everton midfielder remains on Barcelona’s radar.
Barcelona still keen
Barcelona’s continued interest in Amadou Onana is understandable. The Catalan giants have not filled Sergio Busquets’s void since the veteran Spanish midfielder joined Inter Miami nearly 12 months ago. Oriol Romeu tried and failed to be the short-term replacement, but Andreas Christensen, a makeshift, has been the best holding midfielder for Barcelona in the past year.
So, Barcelona must sign a holding midfielder next year, with Joshua Kimmich and Jerdy Schouten emerging on the Catalan outfit’s radar. Onana is also a viable target, although executing a deal for the Belgian midfielder will be a tall order, considering he joined Aston Villa less than two months ago.
In addition, the Villans are in the UEFA Champions League, while they will look to make a significant profit on the €60 million they paid to secure his services if Onana forces their hand. So, the Aston Villa midfielder will unlikely join Barcelona anytime soon.
