Aston Villa ‘preparing bid’ for highly rated Roma star with Tottenham also interested

Aston Villa are reportedly preparing to bid for the highly rated Roma defender Roger Ibanez.

The Brazil international joined the Giallorossi from Serie A rivals Atalanta in a permanent deal worth around £8.1million last summer after impressing on a season-long loan during the second half of the previous campaign.

Ibanez, 24, impressed during his time at the Stadio Olimpico this season and his form has forged a notable bond with Roma manager Jose Mourinho. He mainly plays in central defence but has also been used as a defensive midfielder.

Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport claim Ibanez is one of the few starters Roma could sell this summer, and according to the RomaPress, Aston Villa are reportedly preparing their first bid for the 24-year-old, with the Italian club’s asking price no less than €25-30 million. The South Amercian has also been linked with Fulham and Newcastle.

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Meanwhile, Villa have agreed a deal with Villarreal to sign Pau Torres with the Spanish defender expected to cost around £35 million.

Unai Emery was desperate to reunite with the 26-year-old after spending two years with the player at Villarreal, and now the deal is sealed and all but confirmed.

Torres, who has been heavily linked with the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich in recent months, is widely regarded as world-class.

The defender is set to become Villa’s second major addition of the summer window, following Youri Tielemans’ transfer from Leicester City.