Aston Villa have joined the race for Sporting CP left-back Maxi Araújo one of eight Premier League clubs pursuing the Uruguay international.
- Sport Witness reveal Villa, Newcastle, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United and Manchester City are all interested
- Sporting want €45-50m despite an €80m release clause in the 26-year-old’s contract
- Araújo has delivered six goals and four assists this season, primarily from left-back
- Lucas Digne’s declining performance levels make the left-back position a clear summer priority
Eight Premier League clubs. Villa enter a crowded race
According to Sport Witness, Aston Villa are among a remarkable eight Premier League clubs tracking Maxi Araújo ahead of the summer window.
Newcastle United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Manchester City have all been identified as serious suitors alongside the Midlands club.
Furthermore, a number of unnamed Spanish clubs are also monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation, confirming the scale of interest surrounding one of the Primeira Liga’s most versatile performers.
The Uruguay international joined Sporting from Mexican side Deportivo Toluca and has since delivered ten goals and 12 assists across 88 appearances for the Portuguese champions.
This season specifically, six goals and four assists from left-back represent an outstanding attacking return from a defensive position, precisely the kind of output that appeals to Emery’s system.
The versatility factor. Why Emery is interested
Araújo’s appeal extends beyond pure left-back quality. The 26-year-old is equally comfortable operating further forward as a winger, providing Emery with a player capable of fulfilling multiple roles within the same system.
That tactical flexibility is understood to be a primary driver of Villa’s specific interest, given the manager’s consistent desire to recruit players who can contribute across different positions and formations.
His Champions League experience with Sporting adds further credibility.
A player who has performed at European football’s highest level represents a significantly lower risk for a club preparing to compete in exactly that competition next season.
Energy, speed, and attacking aggression from the left side, combined with that European pedigree, make Araújo a compelling and specific fit.
The fee and the competition
Sporting are willing to sell below the €80m release clause, with the Portuguese club seeking approximately €45-50m for their star left-back.
That figure represents a significant but achievable investment for a Champions League-bound club with commercial revenues set to increase substantially next season.
| Araújo Profile | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 26 |
| Club | Sporting CP |
| Contract | Until 2029 |
| Release Clause | €80m |
| Sporting’s Asking Price | €45-50m |
| 2025-26 Goals / Assists | 6 / 4 |
| Transfermarkt Value | €25m |
Why Villa must address left-back this summer
Lucas Digne will turn 33 before the new season begins and his performance levels have declined noticeably throughout the current campaign.
Despite signing a contract extension until 2028 last summer, this could be an ideal moment to move the French international on and reinvest in a younger, more dynamic alternative.
Ian Maatsen provides solid cover but has not established himself as a reliable first choice.
Villa must move quickly. Eight Premier League clubs. Several Spanish sides. A player fully focused on Sporting and the World Cup.
Villa must translate interest into a concrete offer before this window becomes impossibly crowded.
