Villarreal is pursuing Levante's 21-year-old Spanish forward Carlos Espí and is now considered the favorite to sign him by paying his €25 million release clause. To protect the potential multi-million euro transfer, Levante has kept the player out of training. A final decision on his future is expected within a maximum of 48 hours. The move is appealing to Espí as it would represent a significant advancement in his sporting career, include Champions League participation, and be his first major contract away from his current club. MARCA Transfer reported that Villarreal has an advantage, but the player's entourage claims a definitive choice has not been made. A Premier League team is also interested, and Bologna in Italy also showed interest but has reportedly prioritized another target. The Spain U20 international's contract with Levante runs until 2028. He scored 11 goals in 25 LaLiga appearances last season, and his current market value is €20.00m, according to Transfermarkt.