Aston Villa have set their sights on Barcelona's teenage midfield talent Marc Bernal, with the Premier League club reportedly making him their top priority signing for the upcoming summer transfer window.

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, citing The Sun, Villa manager Unai Emery has identified Bernal as a necessary addition to his engine room at Villa Park. The Claret and Blue are understood to be preparing a €35 million offer for the 19-year-old's signature.

Bernal, who is fresh off a resurgent 2025/26 campaign at Camp Nou, spent the season working his way back to full fitness following a long-term ACL injury that had kept him on the sidelines. The young Spaniard went on to rack up 33 appearances across all competitions, proving his resilience and quality at the highest level.

What made Bernal's campaign particularly eye-catching was the new dimension he added to his game. Despite primarily operating as a deep-lying midfielder at the base of Barcelona's midfield, the teenager chipped in with five goals — an impressive return for a player in his role and a clear sign of his growing all-round influence.

However, any Villa approach is likely to face stiff resistance. Both Barcelona and Bernal himself are reportedly eager to continue their journey together into next season, with the Catalan giants viewing the youngster as a key part of their long-term project.

Whether Aston Villa's €35 million valuation proves enough to prise the talented midfielder away from La Liga remains to be seen, but Emery's interest signals the Birmingham club's ambition to bolster their midfield with one of Spain's most promising young prospects.