2009-11-27 - Added by ExtraFootie
http://www.extrafootie.co.uk/news/article/31648/Valencia boss Unai Emery has for the first time admitted star striker David Villa can leave the Mestalla, but only if he can find an adequate replacement.
Villa, who turns 28 on Thursday, is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football, and has been consistently linked with a host of top European clubs ever since his goalscoring exploits during Spain's successful Euro 2008 campaign.
The former Zaragoza man has bagged 113 goals in 187 appearances for Los Che in just over four seasons, and his club have time and again reiterated their stance that he is not for sale at any price, despite their financial problems.
However, it seems the purse strings are tighter than ever for Emery, who has finally come out and conceded that the club are willing to consider letting "El Guaje" leave, but not before they bring in a decent replacement.
"The exit of Villa will be dependant on us identifying a suitable replacement," he is quoted as saying by skysports.com.
"At the moment the club is working on that, but any decision will not rest with me.
"My mission is to prepare the squad for the present and not think too much about the future.
"Valencia will always be a big club and we do not depend on just one or two players."
This news will no doubt be music to the ears of Villa's various suitors around Europe, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United all believed to be interested in his services.
Reports in Spain say that Villa will definitely join one of Barca or Real, though more recent stories quote the player as suggesting he would be open to a move to England, and in particular, to Old Trafford.
Villa has also been a long term target of Rafa Benitez at Liverpool, with the thought of pairing him up with good friend and international team-mate Fernando Torres enough to make Rafa consider altering his formation.
However, unless the Reds are able to tie up their upcoming investment deal in the next month, which is very unlikely, then there is no way they would be able to compete financially with their rivals for his signature.