Marco Asensio joined Aston Villa on loan in January from PSG. It was reported that Villa were keen on signing him permanently after his loan finished, but decided against it due to their need to reduce their wage bill and with Asensio being on high wages.
The four-time Champions League winner has attracted interest from clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia. A move to Fenerbache was close with agreements reached between the clubs, however, Asensio was waiting for other options to emerge and now a return to Villa could be on the cards. With Jacob Ramsey now close to joining Newcastle, Villa may have some wiggle room financially to complete a move.
Villa are exploring a deal to re-sign the former Real Madrid player, with both a permanent move and loan deal being considered, according to the Telegraph's John Percy and transfer specialist Sacha Tavolieri. Asensio, who turns 30 in January, has one year remaining on his current contract with PSG, so a low-cost fee could be agreed between the clubs. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue as Asensio is keen on a return to Villa.
Enjoyable Loan Spell
The Spaniard made an instant impact at Villa scoring seven goals in his first eight games, despite starting only three of them. It was clear that Asensio oozes class. He's a player that you hold your breath for as you eagerly watch what he might do with the ball. Playing in the No 10 just behind Ollie Watkins, Asensio made a difference to the Villa side. He started twelve games for Villa during his loan spell and the Villans won ten of them. His positioning and vision for creating chances was a cut above the rest and he is a player that would add more quality to Villa's attacking ranks.
Marco Asensio up next pic.twitter.com/pbge9NIeSJ
— EB10 (@astonvilla___) March 29, 2025
Asensio is a serial winner so it's not just on the pitch where he adds value. In training at Bodymoor Heath, Villa's younger players look up to him. He has such a large pedigree that all players can learn from him. The 29-year-old's experience across Europe and in the Champions League can only help Villa compete in the Europa League as it's a player like Asensio that can step up when needed.
Which Deal Would be Best for Villa?
Wages will be a big factor in both a permanent and loan deal. PSG want Asensio off their books so Villa could drag a deal out until the end of the window where the Champions League winners may become more desperate to move him on. A loan deal would probably mean Villa would need to cover all of Asensio's wages which for UEFA's Squad Cost Rules (SCR), will not suit Villa at all. However, as he only has 12 months left on his contract, Villa may be able to sign him on a free transfer next summer.
A permanent deal may allow Villa to negotiate lower wages with Asensio, alongside a low fee for PSG. Should both parties agree, then it would suit Villa more as Asensio's wages, although still likely to be high, would be less than what they would have to cover in a loan deal. The risk is the length of contract they offer Asensio. Whilst you want to protect his value, should his performances decline after a season, then you may be stuck with him for another few years paying his high wages because no club can afford them. Philippe Coutinho's permanent move to Villa in 2022 springs to mind.
Nevertheless, there will be hope among Villa supporters that Asensio still has what it takes to compete at a high level. His recent performances support this and with Unai Emery always seeming to get the best out of his players, there is no reason why the Spanish international can't perform for years to come.
