(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Fri 17 April 2026 13:45, UK

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Marcos Senesi has taken a huge step towards joining Tottenham Hotspur over Aston Villa, as he is now in advanced talks over a move to North London.

David Ornstein confirmed via his X account on Friday that the Lilywhites are currently leading the race to sign the AFC Bournemouth centre-back, who is set to be one of the most in-demand free agents in the Premier League this summer.

Aston Villa have been a firm part of the ever-growing race to secure his signature in recent weeks, while the likes of Juventus and Barcelona have also shown an interest from abroad.

Unai Emery and Co. may have been left feeling defeated after news of Tottenham’s advancement towards a deal, but there is no reason for them to lose hope just yet.

Senesi has plenty of options available to him despite the ongoing talks, and he could yet form a crucial part of Aston Villa’s summer transfer plans.

Tottenham deal for Marcos Senesi could still collapse

Tottenham’s struggles on the pitch have been well-publicised in recent months, and almost all of their summer transfer business is likely to be dictated by the outcome of their ongoing relegation battle.

The Lilywhites are currently two points adrift of safety heading into the final six games of the Premier League season, and they are rapidly running out of time to secure their top-flight status for another season.

Their ability to beat the drop at the end of the campaign is set to play a crucial part in whether they are able to get their move for Senesi over the line, with any deal dependent on them avoiding relegation.

However, that is appearing increasingly unlikely for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, as they are running out of time and saw little change during the new boss’ first game in charge last weekend.

Aston Villa will be watching their desperate attempts to stay up with prying eyes in the coming weeks, knowing that it is increasingly likely that they will be able to offer Champions League football next season.

The Villans’ hopes of signing Senesi have undoubtedly been dealt a blow by Spurs’ discussions, but with European football likely to be in their arsenal for any talks of their own, they will surely feel confident of striking a deal if Tottenham’s efforts collapse.

Barcelona interest still a major problem for Aston Villa

Football Insider revealed back in March that Senesi would find it extremely hard to turn down Barcelona if they made a concrete move for him this summer, and their interest will remain a major concern for Villa.

If Spurs’ move ultimately falls through, Villa’s position as likely leaders of the race could be placed under serious threat by the La Liga giants.

Senesi “ticks a lot of boxes” for the Blaugrana due to their financial situation and their desire to add experience to their squad, while they also boast an unrivalled heritage as a club.

However, with Villa’s coffers set to be boosted again by Champions League qualification, they may be able to overpower the possibility of a move to the Camp Nou with a lucrative contract offer.