Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen make approaches for young Barcelona star

Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen have both approached Barcelona over winger Ez Abde, 90min understands.

The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Osasuna, helping the club to an impressive seventh-place La Liga finish and a surprise appearance in the Copa del Rey final - a game they would narrowly lose to Real Madrid.

Abde has been welcomed back into the first-team fold at Barcelona, playing a more prominent role for Xavi after the departure of Ousmane Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain, and came off the bench to play the full second half aganst Getafe on matchday one in La Liga.

Despite his integration into Barcelona's senior setup, Osasuna president Luis Sabalza has expressed a strong interest in either loaning Abde back or signing him on a permanent basis, though 90min understands that Xavi is reluctant to see him leave.

And sources have further confirmed to 90min that Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen have both made approaches to Barcelona over Abde's availability, indicating a willingness to offer €20m (£17m) for his services.

Earlier this summer, Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed Xavi's intention to make Abde a part of his plans for the 2023/24 season, telling L'Esportiu: "Xavi has told us that he wants him and I am very happy. First for him, because he is a cheeky player and when he was with us he did very well. The loan in Osasuna has gone very well for him in his training, he is young.

"Second, because it connects us with Morocco. Barca is a global club and it is good for us to have a Moroccan player. He is a talented player, who did very well in the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations, being the captain. I am very happy to have him in the first team."

Aston Villa also retain an interest in Abde's Barcelona team-mate, Ansu Fati, but he's keen to fight for his first-team place in Catalonia and has no intention of leaving the club.

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