A name that was bouncing around whilst Villa were first rumoured to be interested in Boubacar Kamara, was that of Ibrahim Sangare. Whilst Villa caught a number of top sides in Europe napping in signing Kamara on a free, with many thinking that would end Villa’s interest in the PSV midfielder; might he end up at Villa Park?
Villa are known to want to improve a midfield that lacked the bite, and strength in depth to achieve anything higher than 14th last term. With uncertainly over the future of the likes of Douglas Luiz, Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that there could be further “recycling” in the squad.
Furthermore, whilst the club have been astute in acting early to get a number of key deals across the line, other targets have been more elusive in achieving.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis includes the long time linked Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma. Bissouma was subject to significant bid from Villa in the January transfer window to try and prize him away, despite a lingering unresolved legal matter. The midfielder, with a valuation similar to that of Sangare, now looks destined to end up at the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal or Monaco.
A perhaps more ambitious move was for Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips. Now an established England international, Phillips’ stock is high and a minimum fee of £50m would likely be demanded for a player who missed a fair chunk of last season through injury. The 26 year old also likely holds some urgency with his ambitions, perhaps in a similar way to Grealish, and is therefore less likely to buy-in to a longer term project. Phillips and Bissouma are believed now to be off the shopping list.
Ibrahim Sangare
Villa boss Steven Gerrard is a known admirer, with the Dutch press having earlier reported that he personally scouted Sangera as recently as April. The Ivory Coast international was turning out for PSV against Leicester City. This was a game where Gerrard was reportedly also looking at another emerging talent in the form of 20 year old Noni Madueke as well.
Sangera has a massive €40m / £34m release fee in his current deal, and given that Villa have made a huge transfer fee saving on Kamara, doesn’t necessarily rule us out. Liverpool, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Newcastle are also cited as keen on acquing the ball winners services in what could be one of the more interesting transfer rumours of the summer to monitor.
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