Aston Villa have already made major changes this summer, but Unai Emery may still be offered the chance to add Real Madrid’s Endrick.
Villa entered the window from a position of strength after winning the Europa League, yet the departures of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans created two enormous holes.
Emery’s side have reinvested by signing Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes, with Alejandro Garnacho also arriving on loan to provide pace and flair out wide.
Their centre forward department already looks crowded.
Ollie Watkins remains the established first choice after scoring his 100th Villa goal last season. Tammy Abraham returned to the club in January, Evann Guessand is back following his Crystal Palace loan and teenager Brian Madjo has impressed during pre-season.
That means Villa do not desperately need another striker. However, Endrick is not an ordinary opportunity.
Real Madrid agreed to sign the Brazilian from Palmeiras before he had even turned 17. He eventually arrived in Spain during the summer of 2024 carrying a huge reputation after becoming one of the youngest scorers in Brazilian league history.
|
Endrick vs Aston Villa strikers last season in the league |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Club spell |
League |
Apps |
Starts |
Minutes |
Goals |
Assists |
G+A |
G+A per 90 |
|
Endrick |
Lyon |
Ligue 1 |
16 |
14 |
1,215 |
5 |
7 |
12 |
0.89 |
|
Ollie Watkins |
Aston Villa |
Premier League |
37 |
33 |
2,838 |
16 |
3 |
19 |
0.60 |
|
Donyell Malen |
Aston Villa |
Premier League |
21 |
5 |
655 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
0.69 |
|
Tammy Abraham |
Aston Villa |
Premier League |
12 |
2 |
286 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0.63 |
|
Evann Guessand |
Aston Villa |
Premier League |
13 |
6 |
589 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0.15 |
His first Madrid campaign produced seven goals across 37 appearances in all competitions, but those numbers require context. Endrick played only 847 minutes as opportunities behind the club’s established attackers proved difficult to secure.
The situation became even more frustrating during the opening half of last season. He featured only three times before joining Lyon on loan in January.
France offered the regular football he needed, and Endrick managed an excellent five goals and seven assists in 16 Ligue 1 appearances, starting 14 of those matches.
His performances restored momentum and helped him earn a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad, with fans constantly calling on Carlo Ancelotti to start him at the tournament.
Endrick is powerful, explosive and confident shooting early. He can operate through the centre or move into the right channel before attacking the penalty area on his stronger left foot.
His future is now uncertain again, gifting Villa an opening.
Aston Villa told conditions to sign Real Madrid star Endrick after talks
TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey report that Endrick’s representatives and intermediaries have contacted several Premier League clubs while assessing a possible departure from Real.
Aston Villa are named among the teams to have held ‘conversations’ about his situation, and the report adds that England would be Endrick’s preferred destination if he leaves Spain.
Real Madrid are said to favour another straight loan without an option to buy. Villa would reportedly be open to that as well, whereas most of the other interested clubs want a route to a permanent deal.
This could put Villa in a decent position to agree a move with Real if they decide to act on these discussions, and bringing in the Bernabeu sensation on loan would be a risk-free move on NSWE’s part.
The only question is how Endrick would fit into Emery’s starting eleven, and while his Ligue 1 renassaince was impressive, the hustle and bustle of the Premier League is a completely different ball game.