Aston Villa Transfer News: Kieran Trippier, Pepe Reina & Jota Peleteiro

The very latest transfer news and rumour round-up from B6 featuring all the current updates concerning Aston Villa:

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Kieran Trippier

An interesting transfer report raises the prospect of Villa making an enquiry for 29 year old Atletico Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier.

The former Spurs and England defender would represent an excellent acquisition, with Ahmed Elmohamady the wrong side of 30 and Frederic Guilbert injury prone.

The England international himself had a spell out with a groin complaint this season, but featured more prominently towards the end of the campaign both domestically in La Liga and until Atletico were knocked out of the Champions League by Leipzig. He made 33 appearances in total.

With Villa having shipped 67 goals last term, Dean Smith can only be reasonably looking to shore up the defence with quality, Premier League proven experience. A player of Trippier’s calibre, despite having 3 years left on his current deal to overcome, would definitely represent an improvement.

Whilst it has widely been reported that Villa have a signficant war-chest this summer, a fee at the very least matching the €20 million that Diego Simeone paid Spurs would be required to tempt the Madrid side to sell.

JOTA

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The former Brentford playmaker has struggled due to injury and for form since arriving last summer.

Jota has been previously linked during this transfer window with a possible moves to Nottingham Forest and Fulham floated. It seems unlikely that he will feature in Smith’s plans, with Villa needing to inject pace into the midfield as a priority.

The latest reports now indicate that there’s also interest from Spain, with Levante, Granada and Real Valladolid all monitoring the Spaniard who managed just 14 appearances for Villa throughout the 2019 / 2020 campaign.

PEPE REINA

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The likeable ‘keeper, who deputised for Tom Heaton following injury and secured the number 1 shirt after a blunders by Norwegian stopper Orjan Nyland, looks set to be joining Lazio.

Reina, who turns 38 this month, had made it clear during post-match interviews that he required a guarantee of first team football as now in the twilight of his career. Villa would presumably have only been able to honour this until Heaton’s return from long-term injury, expected this side of Christmas.

The former Liverpool stopper made 12 appearances for Villa, who will likely be considering their options with the news that England international Heaton will not be match-fit for the season opener.

The news of a permanent move for Reina come as a blow, with the potential for a short term loan or a permanent deal previously an option for Villa. Smith must now ponder alternatives, with Nyland looking ill-equipped for the Premier League and Jed Steer considered a competent back-up at best.

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