The latest Aston Villa transfer news and rumour, including news of a possible swap deal for Jack Grealish, a surprise link away from Villa Park for Conor Hourihane and youthful Norwich City striker Ruben Shakpoke is linked.
JACK GREALISH
Embed from Getty ImagesThere has been little in the way of positive news of late for Jack Grealish. The 24 year old is still awaiting an appearance in court (deferred until November) after an alleged lockdown breach and found himself snubbed by Gareth Southgate for the latest England squad this week.
Villa’s marquee midfielder also remains on the radar of a number of top sides, with Manchester United particularly keen following the collapse of the Jadon Sancho transfer.
Earlier rumours linking Grealish to Manchester City and Arsenal appear to have cooled, with Pep Guardiola’s attention having firmly fixed upon a sensational move to bring Lionel Messi to The Etihad.
This perhaps lessen’s the competition for United, who have reportedly begun to test Villa’s resolve. This would see a cash offer lower than Villa’s £80 million asking price, but with two players coming the other way B6. Ole Gunnar Solskjær is understood to have put Sergio Romero and Diogo Dalot forward as options.
Sergio Romero is perhaps the most interesting of the two having played second fiddle to De Gea. However, with Dean Henderson now having returned to old Trafford and signed a five year deal with no prospect of a further loan, the 33 year old Argentine becomes third choice.
Embed from Getty ImagesDean Smith faces the prospect of beginning the new season without Tom Heaton who is still recovering from a New Years Day ACL injury. Villa had brought in Pepe Reina as a covering loanee ‘keeper, but the Spaniard has now opted to move from AC Milan to Lazio.
Diogo Dalot is a young (21) attacking right wing back who is seen as surplus to requirements at United. The Portugeuse defender was bought for £19 million in 2018 but has endured a “disastrous” time in Manchester. Dalot has appeared just eleven times and just once last term.
Embed from Getty ImagesCONOR HOURIHANE
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Irish international, now 29, is in the final year of his Villa contract.
There are reports eminating from Turkey that his agent is sounding out a move, with Besiktas and Trabzonspor interested parties.
Hourihane was key during Villa’s survival run-in, contributing 3 assists in a run of games that saw the club escape relegation.
JAMES BREE
Embed from Getty ImagesForgotten Villa full-back James Bree, who spent last season on loan at Luton Town is anticipated to make the move permanent.
Bree was seen as one of the most promising full-backs in the country when he joined at just 19 from Barnsley, but has seen his Villa career ebb away after joining on a 4+ year deal in 2017.
The defender, described as lacking in confidence and shy, does not appear to have a future at Villa Park under Dean Smith, with any fee received likely to be nominal.
Ruben Shakpoke
The most tenuous of today’s links is that of Ruben Shakpoke, who has departed Norwich City following their relegation to the Championship.
Whilst Villa are certainly in need of attacking reinforcements, it seems a remote connection to a youthful striker who managed just a solitary appearance for The Canaries U18 side.
With that said, there have been links in the local press earlier in the month as well as peripheral interest from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. In the event that Shakpoke makes the switch to Villa Park, it’s reasonable to assume that he’ll find himself in the clubs recently reinvigorated academy set-up at Bodymoor Heath.
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