Alejandro Garnacho Faces Tough Times at Aston Villa with Possible January Transfer Options

Alejandro Garnacho's Struggles at Aston Villa

The start of Alejandro Garnacho's spell at Aston Villa has been far from ideal. The Argentine winger, who joined on loan from Chelsea this summer, with an obligation to buy for £43 million under certain "easily achievable" conditions, has found playing time hard to come by.

So far, Garnacho has only appeared in three league matches, accumulating just 31 minutes on the pitch. He has been an unused substitute in the last four games across all competitions. Comparisons are already being drawn to Harvey Elliott’s stint at Villa in 2025 when he played just nine times as Unai Emery hesitated to trigger a permanent transfer.

Unai Emery on Garnacho's Position

Emery has not been as open about Garnacho’s situation as he was with Elliott’s, but it seems the player is still low in the squad hierarchy. When asked about Garnacho's prospects, Emery advised patience and consistent effort:

“Continue working. Work, work, train, work. When he can have minutes to play, try and play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.”

He mentioned how players like George Hemmings, Alysson, and Ibrahim Mbaye are currently ahead of Garnacho:

“George is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well and is giving us things I want. Mbaye also responded well. We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have. Garnacho is a little bit behind because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient for the time he needs.”

Potential Move in January

If Garnacho’s situation does not improve, there might be a chance for a fresh start elsewhere. The Daily Mail reports that several La Liga clubs are keeping tabs on the winger ahead of the January transfer window. This could provide Garnacho with an opportunity to leave Villa and find more consistent minutes.

This move would also bring Garnacho back closer to home. Born in Madrid, he spent part of his youth career at Atletico Madrid’s academy before moving to Manchester United in 2020 at 16 years old.

During the international break, Garnacho will be in Seville as Villa holds a training camp in Spain. While many of his teammates represent their countries, he will have a chance to impress Emery before Premier League action resumes on 10 October. His last appearance for Argentina was in 2024, so this period could be crucial for regaining momentum in his career.