Aston Villa will reportedly look to sign 24-year-old Spanish midfielder Adrian Bernabe from Serie A club Parma, but they face stiff competition from four Italian giants.

According to a report by Italian outlet Milan Live, Adrian Bernabe is the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The Villans are keen on bolstering their first-team squad by signing a versatile midfielder next year. So, the 24-year-old Parma midfielder has emerged as a target for the West Midlands outfit.

However, Aston Villa will not be alone in the race to sign the Spaniard, as he is also a target for several Serie A giants, those being AC Milan, AS Roma, Inter Milan, and Napoli. Meanwhile, Parma will demand at least €25 million to part ways with Bernabe.

Adrian Bernabe and his time in Serie A so far

Adrian Bernabe has established himself as one of the best young prospects in Serie A since joining Parma Calcio from Manchester City in July 2021. A native of Barcelona, the 24-year-old spent most of his formative years in his home city and graduated from the youth division at FC Barcelona.

The Spanish midfielder could not establish a foothold at Manchester City, but he has been solid thus far for Parma. Bernabe has made over 100 appearances for the Serie A club while chipping in with 18 goals and ten assists. Meanwhile, the former Barcelona prospect’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. Aston Villa will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.

Premier League return on the horizon?

Aston Villa’s interest in Adrian Bernabe is understandable. The Villans are scouring the market for a versatile midfielder heading into the next two transfer windows, even though Unai Emery has a stacked midfield unit. However, John McGinn is on the wrong side of 30, while Ross Barkley has struggled with fitness issues in the last 12 months.

Several candidates, including Christos Mouzakitis, have thus emerged on Aston Villa’s radar, with Bernabe also a viable target. The Spanish midfielder may feel he has unfinished business in the Premier League after failing to establish a foothold at Manchester City. Meanwhile, Parma will demand at least €25 million to part ways with Bernabe.

However, the Villans are not alone in the race to sign the 24-year-old Spaniard, as Serie A giants AC Milan, AS Roma, Inter Milan, and Napoli are also vying for his signature. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Bernabe amid his links with Aston Villa and several other well-known clubs.