Villarreal boss Unai Emery has indicated he would jump at the chance to keep Tottenham loanee Juan Foyth.
The versatile Foyth penned a new contract with Spurs before going out on loan to Villarreal last October.
The Argentina centre-back extended his association with Spurs until the summer of 2023. His future though in north London is unclear.
He fell down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho and decided to move out on loan in a bid to get some football.
The defender has made 23 appearances in all competitions in a variety of positions for the Yellow Submarine.
Foyth has played as a centre-back in the Champions League, while he has been used in a defensive midfield role in LaLiga and at right-back.
Emery is a fan of the 23-year-old and says he wanted to sign him for Paris Saint-Germain prior to his arrival at Spurs from Estudiantes in 2017.
“I knew Juan Foyth, I called him to sign for PSG, but he had already signed with Tottenham,” Emery told AS (via Sport Witness).
“He was a player that we knew well and knew that his versatility would give us a lot. That versatility and his quality is what we acquire. That’s why we signed him, and now he has given us what we expected.
“His performance has been very good, he has fulfilled all the options at a high, very high level. His versatility was what we wanted, in addition to playing as a centre-back.”
Asked if he wanted to keep the player, he said: “If I would keep him? The truth is that it is something that we must wait for. But if it were up to me, yes, I would keep him with us.”
Foyth has made 32 Tottenham appearances and moved to Spain on loan with a ‘non-mandatory’ purchase option of €15m.
Villarreal though will have to make some money selling some players if the LaLiga side are to push ahead with a move. They are also likely to ask for a price reduction on Foyth, whom, per the source, has loads of scope for improvement.
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Tottenham have interest in Pjanic
Meanwhile, Spurs have been mentioned as suitors for Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic.
Spanish outlet Todo Fichajes (via Goal) state that Everton are weighing up a move for the player, but Spurs are also keen.
Everton have become frequent business partners with Barca in recent years. Lucas Digne, Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes were all acquired from the La Liga giants.
Pjanic, 30, could be next in line with Ancelotti stated to be ‘wanting to get the most’ out of the pair’s close relationship.
The Bosnian midfielder moved to the Camp Nou last summer as Arthur Melo departed the opposite way.
Despite his obvious talents and years of faultless service in Serie A, Pjanic has failed to live up to Ronald Koeman’s expectations.
The midfielder has failed to register a single goal or assist for his new side. That, combined with Barcelona’s continued financial struggles amid the Covid-19 pandemic could see him put on the market.
The option of a loan is touted by the publication, though competition could reportedly come from Tottenham.
Pjanic is a player the outlet declares Mourinho ‘likes a lot’.
READ MORE: Mourinho blasts ‘obvious’ error after digging out ‘hiding’ Tottenham stars
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Matthew Briggs
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