Aston Villa have dispatched a delegation to Istanbul to watch Fenerbahce winger Oguz Aydin, raising fresh questions about whether Alejandro Garnacho has a long-term future at the club, according to reports citing Turkish sources.

Villa representatives met with Fenerbahce officials after the club contacted the Istanbul side and Aydin's agent. The Premier League outfit could table an offer for the 22-year-old as early as January, though no fee has been disclosed and Fenerbahce's position on a potential sale remains unknown.

Scouting mission doubles as Champions League reconnaissance

Villa's delegation attended Monday night's Istanbul derby, in which Fenerbahce fell 2-1 to Galatasaray — a defeat sealed by two goals from Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen. The timing was notable: Aston Villa are set to face Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League league phase at the same stadium in less than a month.

Garnacho's path to the starting eleven is narrow

Garnacho joined Villa on loan from Chelsea with a conditional obligation to buy, but has struggled to break into manager Unai Emery's starting lineup. The £42 million price tag attached to a permanent deal adds considerable pressure, given the Argentine winger's limited impact so far.

Emery operates with three players behind striker Nicolas Jackson, and that trio of spots has become fiercely contested. John McGinn, Emi Buendia, and Morgan Rogers were regulars last season, while Johan Manzambi is seen as the long-term option through the middle. Ibrahim Mbaye, recruited from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, and the in-form Alysson have since added to the competition. George Hemmings, originally a central midfielder, has further deepened the pool by featuring across all three positions this season.

At 22, Garnacho is actually the oldest among that group of players — older than Alysson, Hemmings, and Mbaye — which complicates any suggestion that Villa would prioritise blocking their development to accommodate him.

Emery has publicly expressed patience with Garnacho, noting the winger is making progress in understanding his tactical demands. Villa's approach with the forward differs markedly from last season's short-term loan of Harvey Elliott, suggesting the club intends to give Garnacho time to adapt. Whether that patience extends through January, however, may depend on how transfer talks around Aydin develop.