Aston Villa have been one of the more active clubs in the summer transfer season so far, but manager Steven Gerrard may have to wait for his other targets as he attempts to bolster his team.
After signing Brazilian centre-back Diego Carlos from Sevilla last month, Aston Villa have already been very active in the summer transfer season.
Carlos joins Boubacar Kamara at Villa Park after the Frenchman joined on a free transfer from Marseille. After their loan spells, Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen have also secured permanent contracts.
Steven Gerrard is apparently still looking for a left-sided defender, as well as a central midfielder and maybe a striker to complement Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins’ attacking threats ahead of the 2022-23 Premier League season. All the latest Villa transfer news and speculations are compiled by Mirror Sport.
Bissouma’s possible demise
Villa manager Steven Gerrard must have been watching Croatia’s 1-1 draw with France on Monday night, in which new midfield acquisition Kamara and teammate Lucas Digne featured for the visitors. As a substitute for Real Madrid and Liverpool target Aurelien Tchouameni, Villa’s promising new midfield recruit made his senior debut for his country.
Monaco midfielder Tchouameni, 22, is being tipped with a move away and it could hand Gerrard a blow as his French club look to target Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma if Tchouameni does depart, according to talkSPORT. Bissouma was not signed by Villa in January, and his contract expires in a year, so he is anticipated to leave this summer.
Bassey sends out a message.
According to Sky Sports News, Calvin Bassey is ‘open’ to negotiating a move from Rangers to Aston Villa this summer. After Gerrard signed him for Rangers in 2020, the former Leicester City junior star might cost up to £25 million this summer. Several Premier League and Bundesliga clubs are interested in signing the Nigeria international, and Sky reports that while Bassey is happy at Ibrox, he would be ‘open’ to speaking with Villa about a possible move to the West Midlands.
But the report adds that Rangers do not want to sell the 22-year-old after he was named in the Europa League team of the season following the club’s run to the final, which ended in heartbreak as Frankfurt beat the Scottish giants on penalties in Seville last month.
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Waiting game with a purpose
Villa will wait for Newcastle to make a decision on Matt Targett before finalising plans to recruit another left-back according to the Express and Star. The Magpies have an option to buy Targett following his spell on loan during the second half of the season but are yet to indicate whether they intend to trigger it.
It is possible Targett will depart Villa Park this summer whatever the case, with the 26-year-old’s impressive performances on Tyneside having gained him several suitors. If Targett goes, Villa ideally want to bring in an experienced performer for competition and cover for Digne, the £25million January signing who will start next season as No.1 choice at left-back.