Newcastle and Aston Villa have included Alex Baena on their list of potential transfer targets.
According to CaughtOffside, the Spanish winger has made an impressive start to the 2026/27 season with Atletico, scoring three goals in his first three La Liga matches, which has caught the attention of several top European clubs.
🇪🇸 Baena attracting Premier League interest
The 23-year-old Spaniard is seen as an intriguing option to bolster the attack for English clubs.
The most serious interest appears to come from Manchester City, Newcastle, and Aston Villa. The source notes that clubs may initiate preliminary contacts ahead of the January transfer window, although a more realistic timeframe for a potential deal is the summer of 2027.
For Aston Villa, the interest makes particular sense: Baena is well-known to Unai Emery from their time together at Villarreal. Furthermore, the Birmingham side lost Morgan Rogers to Chelsea over the summer.
Newcastle, meanwhile, is also on the lookout for additional attacking options following the departure of Anthony Gordon.
🔴 Atletico reluctant to sell Baena
The main obstacle for potential buyers is Atletico's stance.
The Madrid club is not inclined to sell Baena, especially in the middle of the season. They view the Spaniard as an essential part of Diego Simeone's team, meaning any departure would require a substantial offer.
That said, English clubs might attempt to lay the groundwork early and establish contact with the player's camp before January.
