Garnacho's Aston Villa struggles draw La Liga interest

Alejandro Garnacho has played 31 minutes of competitive football for Aston Villa since his loan move from Chelsea in July, has not started a match, and has been left on the bench for the last two games. According to the Daily Mail, clubs in La Liga are now watching his situation, though no specific side has been named.

The loan carries an obligation to buy, reported at around £43m, tied to a threshold of appearances that Chelsea consider easily met. There is, for now, no appetite among the parties to revisit that structure.

Villa's left flank has filled up quickly without him. George Hemmings has come forward, Emi Buendia remains first choice, Ibrahim Mbaye has responded well when called upon, and John McGinn — with Villa since September 2020 and 32 goals for the club — still gives Unai Emery cover across the front line.

The case being cited as a warning sign is that of Harvey Elliott. His loan from Liverpool included a clause that would have triggered a £35m permanent deal had he made 10 Premier League appearances last season; Emery used him only four times in the top flight and let the obligation lapse. Elliott has since moved on to Valencia. Whether Garnacho, whose career has stalled over the past two years, faces a similar fate at Villa Park remains to be seen.

Garnacho was born in Madrid and came through Atletico Madrid's academy before joining Manchester United in 2020, where he made his debut at 17 and later won the Premier League's goal of the season for his overhead kick against Everton. He was part of Argentina's Copa America-winning squad in 2024 but has added nothing to his eight caps since November of that year.

If Emery continues to leave him out, the interest from Spain could sharpen once the loan reaches a point where its terms can be revisited — though for now that point has not arrived.