Aston Villa ready to battle Fulham for £6m-rated Bundesliga defender amid transfer 'interest'

Aston Villa are back in Premier League action on Wednesday night with an away trip to Goodison Park to face Everton. Their upcoming opponents have recently turned to David Moyes as their new manager after deciding to sack Sean Dyche.

Unai Emery’s side head to Merseyside on the back of their 2-1 win at home to fellow top flight outfit West Ham in the third round of the FA Cup last time out. They have the opportunity to do some transfer business with the January window open for business.

Aston Villa eye Anthony Caci deal

Aston Villa are interested in signing Mainz 05 defender Anthony Caci, French news outlet Foot Mercato claim. The report suggests that the Midlands outfit are showing an ‘interest’ in landing the Bundesliga ace along with Fulham, Valencia, Benfica and Borussia Dortmund this winter.

Caci, who is 26-years-old, is under contract with his current club until the summer of 2026 meaning a transfer fee would be required to lure him away from Germany right now. He is valued at around the £6million mark on Transfermarkt.

Emery could see him as someone to add more competition and depth to his defensive department. If he did join, he would give him another option to pick from at the back which would come in handy.

The former France youth international spent time as a youngster at SO Merlebach, ES Petite-Rosselle, Étoile Naborienne and SG Marienau. Strasbourg snapped him up in 2011 and he rose up through their ranks and into their first-team.

Caci initially played B team football before going on to play 118 matches before Mainz came calling. He has since become a key player at the Mewa Arena and has scored four goals in 84 outings with his future up in the air.

What next for Aston Villa?

Aston Villa will hope that Everton don’t have a new manager bounce under Moyes. Emery’s men beat Leicester City 2-1 at home in their last league clash.

Speaking ahead of their upcoming fixture against the Toffees, Emery has said: “Of course, every match we are playing has been difficult, playing away more difficult. Our challenge is how we can compete away, because the last matches we played away in Premier League, we didn’t work, we didn’t get points, and tomorrow is our challenge.

“It’s difficult, because as well, it’s Everton with a new coach, and of course I think they are going to be – the crowd and the players – very motivated, excited as well, with [David] Moyes, because before he was a very successful coach there with them.

He added: “But we have to try to focus on our match, our game plan, our idea to impose on the field, respecting them. Overall, maybe some tactical work they are going to change, but I think the players they are playing more or less, tomorrow they will be on the field defending Everton.

“Of course, we respect their players, we respect their stadium, we respect a new coach with a new idea, and I respect as well the difficulty we are going to face tomorrow.”