Villarreal head coach Unai Emery is braced for “unwanted” departures before the transfer window closes amid reports that Juan Foyth is a target for Barcelona.
Barca wants right-back Foyth after Cesar Azpilicueta decides to stay at Chelsea.
The Yellow Submarine are reported to have told LaLiga rivals, Barca, they would have to fork out €42million to take the Argentina international to Camp Nou before the end of the month.
Emery signed a five-year deal when he joined Villarreal from Tottenham in June 2021.
He reveals Foyth will not play the Europa Conference League tie against Hajduk Split on Thursday.
Reports are linking Yeremy Pino with Emery’s former club, Arsenal, and Emery knows he may lose critical men but says both players are happy at the club.
He said during a press conference on Wednesday:
“It is not affecting us. The market closes on August 31, which does not make much sense.
“Although those who make the decision will see some sense.
“In England, they wanted to change the date, but in the end it was detrimental to the English market.
“The logical thing would be close at the beginning of August.
“Juan Foyth will not be here tomorrow because he has discomfort.
“What can affect us is that there may be unwanted exit movements.
“What harms the most is something unforeseen, such as a significant clause payment or the player considers an offer very attractive.”
He added:
“About these latest rumours that have come out of Yeremy and Foyth, we are testing how the players can be.
“Foyth is very happy here, grateful to the club and what he is experiencing with us.
“He gives me a lot of peace of mind. He is not available.
“You must know what the club thinks, which we know, and the player, which we already know.
“What Barcelona thinks, I don’t know.”
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