Aston Villa have seen a £42m bid accepted for Fernandes

The next few weeks are crucial for Aston Villa and Unai Emery, as a generation of supporters enter the club’s biggest period of support.

While securing a place in the Premier League will undoubtedly be a priority, the Villans have a great chance of adding another European trophy to their cabinet in the coming weeks.

Ahead of the Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest, Emery’s men were arguably the favorites for the competition, given where the two clubs now stand.

Winning such a competition, coupled with the prospect of Champions League football at Villa Park next season bodes well for the management’s efforts in the transfer market.

Although the window was not open for another few months, the board wasted no time in identifying potential candidates to help strengthen the senior ranks.

Aston Villa could have a £42m bid accepted for the Champions League star

In recent weeks, Aston Villa have stepped up their efforts ahead of the summer window, with a real push to take the first-team club to the next level in 2026/27.

Liverpool star Curtis Jones is one player set for a move to the West Midlands when the transfer window opens in June.

An estimated fee of £30 million will reward the Englishman away from Anfield, and the player is understood to be frustrated by the lack of game time under Arne Slot.

However, Jones is not the only high-profile talent currently on the management’s radar, with Sporting CP star Maxi Araujo the latest to be tipped for a switch to Villa Park.

The latest Sport Witness claim that Emery’s side have joined Newcastle United in the race to land the Uruguayan international in the summer window.

The 26-year-old’s performances in the Champions League this season have led to increased interest, with Arsenal just one side said to be interested in his services, according to the report.

Any deal would be costly for the Villans this summer, with reports suggesting the Portuguese outfit would accept an offer in the region of €50m (£42m).

Why Araujo could be Villa’s Bruno Fernandes

In recent seasons, Aston Villa is one of the many clubs that have been plagued by Bruno Fernandes in the Premier League.

The Portuguese international has registered a combined 10 goals and assists in 12 appearances against the Villans – and has also featured in 67% of his appearances against the West Midlands.

He registered two assists in the Red Devils’ 3-1 win last month, boosting his chances of creating a new record.

Fernandes has registered 19 assists in England’s top flight this season, and the attacking midfielder is now two assists away from breaking the club record.

Given the levels he has achieved at Old Trafford in recent times, the Villa faithful will no doubt be keen to have a player of his caliber on the books at Villa Park.

However, their ambitions could come true during the next window, especially if the management can win the competition and secure Araujo’s contract.

Although the defender operates in a different position to an attacking midfielder, he could emulate Fernandes by moving to the Premier League after making his name at Sporting.

The Uruguayan has also shown similar qualities in attacking areas, which could see him provide supplies for the attackers in the final third at Villa Park.

Araujo has created an impressive 1.3 out of 90 chances in Liga Portugal this campaign – a figure that puts him in the top 10% of all defenders in the division.

Such a tally allowed the defender to provide three assists for his side, which saw the likes of Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers benefit from his talents next season.

The Sporting star’s ability on the ball is also reflected in his impressive 24% completed crosses, which also places him in the top 15 for 2025/26.

As a United star, Araujo has also managed to find the net alone this season – after which he has scored six goals in his 42 outings, two of which have come in the Champions League.

However, much of the onus will be placed on the defender to impress off the ball, something he has shown this season with his 6.5 tackles and 90 tackles.

As well as his stats with the ball at his feet, the 26-year-old ranks in the top 10% of players in his position for such stats – making him the perfect defender for Emery.

It’s clear that Araujo would be a fantastic addition to Villa, but they will need to go further in the competition to land his signature this summer.

£42m would be a huge investment, but could be a bargain if he can have the same impact as Fernandes in England’s top flight in the coming years.

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