Villa’s summer recruitment has gone into absolute hyperdrive in recent days, after the club was forced to bide its time throughout the summer transfer window.
Despite a significant war-chest, understood to be in excess of £100 million, Dean Smith, Christian Purslow and new Sporting Director Johan Lange have had to be patient in their attempts to improve Villa’s squad.
With Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins acquired, Emi Martinez will be completing a medical today with a view to making a switch from Arsenal.
Milot Rashica remains heavily linked as well, and the 24 year old winger was left out of the Werder Bremen squad on Saturday.
Finally, there were also left-field rumours earlier this week, resurfacing just yesterday, linking Villa with a double swoop for Jesse Joronen and Jhon Chancellor of Brescia.
BERTRAND TRAORE
Embed from Getty ImagesThere are strong reports today that Villa are chasing Lyon winger Bertrand Traore, having seen a bid of €17m already rejected by the Ligue 1 side.
The former Chelsea midfielder isn’t remembered much for his time at Stamford Bridge, but he has seen a surge in his development whilst back in France, perhaps benefitting from increased game time.
Smith could be pondering this deal given Villa’s struggles in getting Rashica across the line, with a question mark over whether the Kosovan has been holding out for a bigger move than to Villa Park.
Traore is understood to be keen on a move back to the Premier League, with Villa one of few sides prepared to move quickly and put up the finances to push the transfer through.
The 25 year old holds obvious appeal, scoring 33 times and providing 17 assists in 126 first team apperances.
Traore isn’t without other suitors however, with Leicester, Palace and newly promoted Fulham monitoring the €20.5m rated midfielder.
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Massive risk, better go for Rashica.
And Rashica doesn’t represent a massive risk? At least Traore has experience living in England and playing in the Premiership; from what we’ve heard Rashica doesn’t really want to leave Germany.
No but Milot Rashica can score with both feet , and even with him reluctant to leave for the Prem maybe with persuasion he could fit in well at Villa
The other thing to consider not mentioned above is maybe, just maybe we’re in for both? From the paper talk this morning Traore sounds like it’s getting closer to completion, but the Rashica talk is still ongoing as well.
There’s a possibility we may see both players added to our squad before the season opener.