Villa have been consistently linked to Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos and the 24 year old Colombian is anticipated to leave Ibrox if the Scottish clubs £20m valuation is met this summer.
Dean Smith will continue to ponder his striking options after the attack was decidedly impotent as Villa strived to avoid relegation last term.
Wesley, himself chased by Lazio since 2018, struggled for form and goals before a bad knee injury sustained on New Years Day ruled the Brazilian out for the season.
Mbwana Samatta, ironically the man that Villa opted for over Morelos in the January 2020 transfer window, managed just two goals after arriving from Belgium. Only one of those strikes came in the Premier League with the Tanzanian international barely mustering a shot on target post lockdown. He too finds himself amongst the transfer rumours, with sides in Turkey reportedly monitoring his availability.
Alfredo Morelos
The 24 year old striker is subject to intense speculation, with a number of European clubs, including Villa monitoring Morelos’ situation.
Rangers are however holding firm on their valuation, believed to be in the region of £20 million and today’s Scottish Press outlines that a bid from French side Lille for £16.25 million has been rejected.
With Villa also considering offloading low-scoring Keinan Davis, with interest from two Championship clubs, Morelos’ record of 79 goals in 140 games might obviously appeal. Villa are of course also keeping tabs on Celtic’s hot property Odsonne Edouard but face significant competition for his signature.
Given that Rangers have recruited Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten, it would suggest that they are preparing for Morelos’ three year stay to be coming to an end.
Villa and other suiters baulked at an inflated fee of around £35m which is would have cost to have prized him from Rangers during the hyper inflated January transfer window. £20m therefore seems not only more reasonable but reflective of a player who despite a good goalscoring record has a chequered disciplinary charge sheet.
The Colombian is no stranger to controversy, having been on the receiving end of a staggering seven yellow cards. This also included being shown his marching orders twice in just the space of three appearances. He also found himself in hot water for making a cut throat gesture whilst leaving the pitch (having been sent off) as Rangers beat Celtic for the first time away from home since 2010. The striker also reached the joint European record in the 2018/2019 season for dismissals, matching Sergio Ramos and team-mate Ryan Jack.
Aside from Lille and Villa, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Sevilla are possible transfer destinations.
Plain fact is Morelos will score in ANY league / Any company . Its true he can be affected by the red mist , but he lets NO ONE get in his way whilst on form and i know there are people here who think the EPL is better than it actually is , but just look at his Europen goals ……he wont come up against anything like that in the EPL . Guy is a top goal scorer ………..EOS .
Morelos is no angel, he has a bit of a temper but its worth noting he’s the permanent target of the media in Scotland, he’s became the pariah of the goldfish bowl up here, its a circus. Every opposition player hates him because he’s unplayable and he’s volleyed up and down the pitch by defenders who can’t deal with his strength. Villa would get a cracking signing for £20m. I reckon being in a bigger league he’d get the head down, he seemed to have no discipline problems in Finland. Gers fans hate to see him go tbh.
About time villa moved for players now we are supposedly like certain players so don’t wait while others make bids we are always slow then poor then fighting for our place in pl no and as we are a rich club start buying players that the top six to for it not they will always be a better sides than us buy big buy genuine talent not make shift third raters come on villa or is relegation on the cards Shaun