According to a report by Football365 on Wednesday October 21, 2026, Alejandro Garnacho’s hopes of securing a permanent move to Aston Villa are reportedly in jeopardy, with Chelsea growing frustrated over the Argentine winger’s lack of playing time under Unai Emery.

The 22-year-old joined Villa from Chelsea on loan during the summer transfer window in a deal that reportedly includes a conditional purchase option worth £43 million if he reaches a specified number of appearances this season.

However, Garnacho has struggled to establish himself at Villa Park, raising doubts about whether the conditions required to make the transfer permanent will be fulfilled.

According to reports, a permanent move was previously considered almost certain, but the situation has changed because of the winger’s limited involvement.

Chelsea are reportedly disappointed with the lack of minutes Garnacho has received since joining Villa and are concerned that the arrangement may not result in a permanent transfer.

The report claims that the Blues are losing patience with the situation because they had hoped the loan agreement would provide a clear route for the Argentine to leave Stamford Bridge permanently.

Garnacho has made four substitute appearances for Villa this season, accumulating just 42 minutes of action across all competitions, according to Football365.

His involvement in the Premier League has been even more limited, with the report putting his league playing time at only 22 minutes.

The winger's situation became more concerning when he was left out of Villa’s squad for their 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at the weekend.

The omission raised further questions about his position in Emery’s plans and whether he can secure enough opportunities to trigger the purchase clause.

Garnacho arrived at Villa hoping to revive his career after struggling to establish himself as a regular starter at Chelsea last season.

The former Manchester United youngster was once regarded as one of the most promising attacking talents of his generation, but his career has encountered difficulties following his departure from Old Trafford in the summer of 2025.

His move to Chelsea was expected to provide a fresh opportunity, yet he struggled to deliver consistent performances and spent much of his debut campaign on the fringes of the first team.

The switch to Villa was therefore viewed as an opportunity to secure regular football and demonstrate his quality in a different environment.

So far, however, the move has not developed as expected. Emery has previously urged Garnacho to remain patient, work hard in training and take advantage of opportunities when they arise.

The Villa manager also explained that the winger was behind some of his teammates because of circumstances during pre-season, which affected his preparation for the campaign.

“Continue working. Work, work, train, work,” Emery said. “When he can have minutes to play, try to play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.”