Following the departures of Aissa Mandi and Jorge Cuenca, Villarreal are in need of a new centre-back. They’ve already signed Willy Kambwala from Manchester United, but a more experienced option is also wanted by head coach Marcelino Garcia Toral.
Clement Lenglet had been a target, but due to his high wages at Barcelona, that option has been discarded. Instead, Villarreal appear to have turned their attention to former Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso, as revealed by Relevo.
Hermoso is still yet to find a new club, despite leaving Atleti as a free agent over six weeks ago. He’s been heavily linked with a move to Italy, although it could now be Villarreal that he settles for. Marcelino values the 29-year-old, and he has given his approval for negotiations to take place.
Hermoso could be a very shrewd signing for Villarreal, especially as he’d arrive at zero cost. He’d certainly be an upgrade on the recently-departed Cuenca, who had been the specialist left-footed centre-back in the Yellow Submarine’s squad.
