Update emerges on Carney Chukwuemeka's immediate Aston Villa future - report

Barcelona ‘will not enter an auction’ for Aston Villa youngster Carney Chukwuemeka this summer, acting as a potential boost for Steven Gerrard.

The 18-year-old is arguably one of the hottest young properties in English football currently, having impressed with his performances for Villa.

Chukwuemeka already has 16 first-team appearances to his name, registering one assist in that time, not to mention starring for England’s Under-19s in their UEFA Euro Under-19 Championship triumph earlier this summer.

Barca are one of the clubs linked with signing the midfielder, showing exactly how highly he is thought of around the elite clubs in Europe, but a key update has now emerged and it’s good news for Villa fans.

According to reports in Spain [via Sport Witness], the La Liga giants ‘will not enter an auction’ for Chukwuemeka and have ‘other priorities’, in terms of summer signings.

Barca manager Xavi is keen for the move to happen but the club’s finances could ultimately hold the key.

This has to be considered a positive from a Villa point of view, with the club having to do all they can to keep hold of one of their most prized assets in Chukwuemeka.

While it would be delusional to simply expect the teenager to remain at Villa Park for the rest of his career, Gerrard will be desperate for him to stay into his early 20s, maturing into a formidable player in the process and upping his price tag further to boot.

Chukweuemeka has been lauded as a ‘fantastic’ player by his manager and the 2022/23 campaign could be even more of a breakthrough one for him, as he looks to become a fixture in the team.

As things stand, it looks as though Barca are unlikely to get their man but Villa will be aware that bids from other clubs could easily