Aston Villa plans loan for Chelsea's Felix, Buendia nears Leverkusen exit

Aston Villa is moving quickly to address the impending departure of Emiliano Buendia, who is set to join Bayer Leverkusen on a six-month loan with an option to buy for around €20 million. Buendia's limited playing time this season, coupled with his impressive performance against Monaco, has led Villa manager Unai Emery to praise him while also hinting at a strategic move to showcase his abilities ahead of the transfer window. Concurrently, Aston Villa has reignited interest in Chelsea's Joao Felix as a potential replacement for Buendia. Additionally, Villa is exploring a late transfer for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi to bolster their backline following recent injuries. As Villa navigates these changes, they have also secured a one-year contract extension for Buendia, indicating their intent to keep him on the books despite the loan move. The club's proactive approach reflects their ambitions to maintain competitiveness in the Premier League.