Chelsea could be facing an even bigger transfer headache after Alejandro Garnacho's difficult start to life at Aston Villa took another worrying turn.
The Argentine winger left Stamford Bridge during the summer after struggling to establish himself in west London, with Unai Emery viewed as the manager who could help him rediscover his best form.
However, the 22-year-old has found opportunities limited at Villa Park, raising fresh questions about whether his move will become permanent next summer.
The situation is becoming increasingly frustrating for the Blues, who had hoped to secure a significant fee for a player who no longer features in their long-term plans.
Aston Villa reach Garnacho transfer verdict
According to Football365, citing a report from Football Insider, Aston Villa are prepared to back out of their agreement to sign Garnacho permanently if his performances do not improve in the coming weeks.
The deal includes a conditional obligation to buy worth around £43million, which is understood to depend on the winger reaching an agreed appearance clause.
However, Villa are reportedly willing to limit his opportunities rather than trigger the clause if he fails to convince Emery that he deserves a regular place in the side.
The former Manchester United youngster has struggled for minutes since arriving in the Midlands, making five substitute appearances.
There was some encouragement during Villa's recent 3-1 victory over Viking, though, with Garnacho producing what Emery described as his best 20 minutes for the club so far.
The Spaniard praised the winger's improvement after the match, suggesting that there is still an opportunity for him to work his way into the manager's plans.
Nevertheless, that positive display does not change the reported position over the transfer clause, leaving the Argentine with plenty of work to do.
Chelsea could be left with another transfer problem
The latest development is particularly concerning for Chelsea because Garnacho's departure was supposed to provide a straightforward solution to a difficult situation.
The Blues sanctioned his loan move after a disappointing debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, during which he registered 12 goal contributions across all competitions but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.
A permanent transfer worth £43million would have represented a significant return, allowing the club to reinvest that money elsewhere in the squad.
Instead, there is now a growing possibility that the winger could return to west London next summer without having played enough football to attract the same level of interest.
Chelsea would then face the challenge of finding another buyer for a player who has struggled at two Premier League clubs in successive seasons.
Garnacho still has time to change the situation, and Emery's recent comments offer some encouragement. However, the Argentina international must start turning promising cameos into consistent performances if he is to secure his future at Villa Park.
For Chelsea, the hope will be that the winger can finally find his feet, even if that means losing a player they had already expected to move on permanently.
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