Levia Garcia’s excellent performances after his effective change of position on the pitch deservedly have caused a stir on the football market. The striker of AEK, has attracted the attention of European (and not only) clubsthereby becoming several regulars of both the OPAP Arena and the Stoiximan Super League Pioneers games in general.

Villarreal, which has been the subject of much talk in recent weeks, is not one of the long-running favorites. Despite rumors to the contrary, the ‘yellow submarine’ was not sent to the AEK Panathinaikos derby, but actually attended last Sunday’s game against Aris – by invitation.

That doesn’t mean the Levantines don’t know the league’s top scorer. You know him. And they’re reviewing him because his competitive profile matches what they’ll be looking for next summer. They may have also checked in the last transfer window but it didn’t happen.

The reason was the failure to sell Nicholas Jackson to Bournemouth. Everything was agreed, the Senegalese winger traveled to England, but the medical examination revealed that his muscle problem in the calf tendon would keep him out of action for another two months and only at the beginning of February when the Villarreal doctors claimed. So the transfer (€22m) didn’t happen.

If he progressed, Garcia could perhaps – underlined “maybe” – enter the equation of Levantine’s options to replace Jackson, a footballer who has a similar game profile, logic and operation on the field and the ability to roll a role to take over the field, wings and is at the forefront of the attack.

What’s coming in summer

Given the summer? Villarreal have already struck deals with Blackburn’s Chilean striker Ben Brereton, whose contract with the ‘Wheels’ expires at the end of the season. And he, an offensive “multi-tool”: After all, that’s what the attackers wanted by Villarreal need, namely the ability to shoulder different roles and occupy different positions.

The Levantines have also loaned Senegalese international striker Boulagé Dia to Salernitana since last summer. There is a €12m purchase option (including €1 as a loan fee) and it is estimated that it will be exercised.

Dutch winger Arnout Danzouma was also loaned in January, while the deal with Tottenham included a €40m purchase option. It’s hard to calculate, even if it doesn’t really happen, Villarreal put the 26-year-old winger on his release clause anyway to cover his €23m (big investment didn’t work out…) purchase two years ago for €23m .

So it’s clear that Levi Garcia’s competitive package meets the general requirements of Villarreal’s pre-summer search framework. Whether it also covers the individual remains to be seen. It’s not out of the question, but at least after that Sportish information However, with Villarreal stepping into the process to claim the AEK striker, it’s difficult to match the price Union is asking.

There is a financial opening – due to the remodeling of the Villarreal stadium – that the Levantines want to limit with the above measures without making … extravagances on the market. Traditionally they turn to their academy anyway and the approach of their coach Quique Setien is similar (that was one of the reasons why he was favored at the end of October).

After all, the release of Levantine’s intent — while Jackson’s transfer hadn’t yet fallen through — at the end of the January transfer window (although it hadn’t even been discussed yet) was in what they knew was doomed to be Garcia’s loan offer with an option to buy in the summer (when they expect income) was indicative of his status, intentions and abilities on many levels.

In short, Villarreal are looking for a footballer (and probably footballer) in the style of Garcia in the summer. She watched him, though not as intensely. He now knows exactly what is required to obtain it.

And even if a move were to be approved (which we’re still a long way off at the moment), the financial part looks like a major stumbling block, with Levantine’s cap nowhere near what AEK’s demands.

Of course nothing is forbidden. Especially so early, and especially since Garcia’s name is actually in the books of the Levantines. However, before the race in question has even started (assuming they want to take part in the end…) they seem to be there with a significant handicap to the rest of the AEK striker prospects.