Aston Villa are deciding whether to proceed with their chance to buy Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea or to let the option lapse. The Argentine attacker, aged 22, has been used sparingly from the bench since arriving on loan, leading to doubts from coach Unai Emery. This comes as Villa sit 12th in the Premier League on 8 points after 7 games, with two wins and three draws from those matches.
The loan agreement includes a mandatory purchase fee linked to how often he plays. Villa are reportedly thinking about keeping him out of matches to prevent this cost from becoming due, an approach they employed previously with another loaned player. The team might leave him out for the rest of the season to manage their finances.
This discussion is happening during a positive period for Villa, following a recent 2-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday 24 October. That result extended a winning streak and has improved their league standing. The team is in excellent form with four wins and a draw from their last five matches, a run that includes a 3-1 victory over Viking and a 1-0 win at Newcastle.
Garnacho moved to Chelsea from Manchester United in the past but struggled to secure a regular place. He contributed to several goals in his first year there prior to this temporary switch. Being left out of recent squad selections suggests he could be increasingly marginalised.
Should he go back to Chelsea, the London club might have to look for a new destination for him, possibly in Spain. Garnacho could spend the coming months out of the team unless there is a significant shift.
Villa's upcoming match at home to Fulham on Saturday 31 October will offer further clues about whether the player has any part to play this term. Fulham currently sit 19th in the table. The club's recent success has been built on a strong attack, having scored seven goals this season, though they have conceded eleven.
This story first appeared at BBC Sport Football
