With just three days left to salvage their transfer window, Aston Villa are now reportedly closing in on signing a Champions League-winning star who knows all about Premier League football.
Whilst PSR has limited Aston Villa all summer long, there’s still every chance that they could complete some late business. The sale of Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United should have at least freed up some funds to welcome some reinforcements of their own, and there’s no denying that Unai Emery needs it.
The new Rogers: Aston Villa open talks to sign "exceptional" £30m star
Aston Villa are looking to sign a new attacker before Monday’s deadline
ByJoe Nuttall
So far, with two games played, the Villans are yet to win a game. After drawing 0-0 with Newcastle on the opening day, the Midlands club suffered a 1-0 defeat against Brentford to hand Keith Andrews his first victory in charge of the Bees. With Crystal Palace up next in what is historically a tough game for Emery’s side, those at Villa Park should be desperate for fresh faces.
Just who arrives is the big question. Whilst Emery is a clear admirer of Nicolas Jackson, it looks like the out-of-favour Chelsea striker is off to Bayern Munich rather than a Premier League rival. Meanwhile, there’s also plenty of competition in the race to sign Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher and Villa are reportedly among those ready to send an offer to the Spanish club.
Emery is well aware that there’s still work to be done in the window too, having told reporters last week: “The club are working hard to get our structure as strong as possible with the players in the squad, trying to get two players for each position. There is still work to do, maybe even some players leaving more and we will have to sign and complete the squad with some players.”
It’s work that will go right up until the deadline and could even include the arrival of a familiar face in the Midlands.
Aston Villa submit first Asensio offer
As reported by Sacha Tavolieri, Aston Villa have now submitted an opening offer to sign Marco Asensio and are closing in on a deal to sign the Paris Saint-Germain winger worth just €15m (£13m). The Villans are reportedly “confident” that the Spaniard will seal his return for the first time since a successful loan spell at the club last season.
When Asensio arrived last season, he handed Aston Villa the spark that they were beginning to lack alongside fellow loanee Marcus Rashford. There was, therefore, understandable disappointment when the latter sealed a move to Barcelona and it looked as though the PSG star was destined for other things.
Marco Asensio the former wonderkid
Year
Segunda División Player of the Month
2014
UEFA European U19 Championship Golden Player
2015
La Liga Breakthrough Player
2015-16
UEFA European U21 Championship Silver Boot
2017
UEFA European U21 Championship Team of the Tournament
2017
UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI
2017
In a last-gasp move, however, a player who former Tottenham Hotspur man Andros Townsend called a “special talent” looks likely to join back up with his Aston Villa teammates on a permanent basis.