Kieran Maguire: Aston Villa could sign next 'Cesc Fabregas' as owners set for talks in Portugal
Aston Villa could sign the next teenage sensation if they expand their multi-club operation in Portugal.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider as Wes Edens and Nasseff Sawiris eye another club takeover.
Per Birmingham Live last Wednesday (30 March), the billionaire duo are hopeful of completing a deal for Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes.
It is understood that the American and Egyptian have planned to jet out to Portugal for talks and to learn more about the club's infrastructure.
Cesc Fabregas, now 34, signed for Arsenal from Barcelona as a 16-year-old academy player back in 2003.
And Maguire claims that a multi-club outpost on the continent is Villa's best chance of signing such a player in the post-Brexit world.
"It's access players, primarily," he told Football Insider's Adam Williams.
"In terms of emerging talent, clubs aren't going to recruit from the continent until they're over 18 in the post-Brexit environment.
"This is a way for Villa to identify and hold young playing talent abroad. I always give the example of Fabregas coming to England at 16.
"There are plenty of other similar players. Football is a competitive market.
"Without something like this, there is a danger that the likes of Villa will miss out on these kids."
Villa struck a strategic partnership with Egyptian club ZED last December and Edens and Sawiris are also keen on a Las Vegas-based MLS franchise.
This site revealed last Friday (1 April) that Edens and Sawiris plan to bankroll another transfer splurge of over £150million this summer.