In a surprise and late intervention, Grady Diangana is in late talks with both Villa and Fulham. The attacking midfielder had been expected to join West Brom but is reported to be considering his options and personal terms on offer.
The attacking midfielder spent last season on loan at the Albion as they narrowly secured promotion back to the Premier League despite stuttering end of season Championship form.
Embed from Getty ImagesAny deal for the 22 year old winger is apparently connected to West Ham’s pursuit of Said Benrahma. The funds from any sale, around £18 million with add-ons, would enable David Moyes to move for Brentford’s Algerian international playmaker.
As ever, there’s a Villa dimension to Benrahma, despite Smith being his former boss, it appears that the club have missed the boat. The club infamously opted to purchase Egyptian midfielder Trezeguet during their summer 2019 recruitment spree instead, baulking at a hefty transfer fee quoted by Brentford at the time.
West Brom are understood to have had a bid of £18 million accepted, before both Villa and Fulham entered discussions at the eleventh hour. This has undoubtedly given Diangana food for thought and the luxury of choosing his next club with a fee agreed.
Diangana scored eight goals and contributed seven assists at The Hawthorns during the last campaign, appearing 30 times in all.
Should Villa miss out on the England Under-21 international’s signature, we may yet see Smith’s attentions turn back to Benrahma, albeit knowing that West Ham would be armed with a sizeable war-chest of their own following Diangana’s sale.
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What a shambles. Are we now to believe Smith is more in favour of Diangana instead of Berahano. This is the second window we have been after the Brentford winger who is head and shoulders above El Gahzi and Trezuget. Get Watkins and Berahano or Better still bring back Tammy and Axel Tuanzabe and a Goalie.
I feel sure if we got Tammy and Axel it would get Jack to stay. I thought these long winded sagas would drag on with all the new faces round the recruitment table,
We have Smith and Shakespeare, plus Lange and the new head of the scouting system. All having there say, all with fresh ideas and everything running longer than Coronation Street.