Garnacho nears Chelsea exit as Aston Villa plot loan move

Alejandro Garnacho is getting closer to the Chelsea exit door, with a loan move to Aston Villa in the works.

Standard Sport understands the winger is in line to leave Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan move, which would likely include a conditional obligation for the Villans to sign the player permanently next summer.

Talks between the clubs are now advancing and there is an increasing level of confidence that the deal can be finalised and go through.

The Blues put Garnacho up for sale last month. The club's asking price was £43million for the 21-year-old.

Both Villa and Chelsea have had busy transfer windows already this summer, including the west Londoners landing Morgan Rogers from the Champions League club for a guaranteed British-record fee of £117m up front.

Chelsea only signed Garnacho from Manchester United last summer, for £40m, but are already plotting his exit and believe a loan with obligation to Villa can be the solution.

Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso’s side have added John Stones to their shortlist of centre-back candidates, alongside the likes of Como’s Jacobo Ramon.

The 32-year-old became a free agent after leaving Manchester City on July 1 and played a significant role for England as they finished third at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, registering their best finish since 1966.

The central defender, if signed, would be the second defensive acquisition of Alonso’s reign, with Chelsea having already signed versatile wing-back Marco Palestra from Seria A side Atalanta in a deal worth around £47m.

To receive the best stories in your inbox every day, click here to register for one or more newsletters from The Standard.