Villarreal summer window live, Romero returns as Pérez targets midfield reinforcements | OneFootball

Villarreal, under Iñigo Pérez, face a long summer to upgrade last season’s squad with a smaller outlay and a clear push for academy talent, and spending will hinge on any major sales.

El Chiringuito reports that Villarreal are interested in Girona’s Azzedine Ounahi, 26, a Morocco international at the World Cup, and that Atlético are also keen.

With Dani Parejo gone and Thomas Partey not continuing, Pérez has only two natural midfielders, Santi Comesaña and Pape Gueye. Aleix García is the main wish, but taking him from Bayer Leverkusen looks difficult. Luis Milla is also being considered.

Gueye has suitors and could leave, which would increase room to invest. One of four midfield roles will go to an academy player, with Carlos Maciá, Alassane Diatta and Dani Requena in contention. Pérez will decide in pre-season.

Sevilla are interested in goalkeeper Diego Conde, who was unused last season and is third choice behind Luiz Junior and Arnau Tenas. Villarreal want a fee around one million euros, and he is not in the plans so must depart.

Four loanees return, Ilias Akhomach, Thiago Fernández, Ramón Terrats and Álex Forés. Akhomach knows Pérez from their spell together at Rayo in the second half of the season. Thiago is a club bet after Oviedo, while Terrats and Forés will leave.

Carlos Romero is back after two standout years at Espanyol, and has extended his deal to 2031. Following Alfonso Pedraza’s exit, he will share left-back duties with Sergi Cardona.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo