Aston Villa ‘in a good position’ to sign big-money midfielder from Premier League rivals - reports

The Mali international was the subject of an unsuccessful £25million bid from Villa during the January transfer window and Steven Gerrard remains keen to add him to his squad this summer.

Reports have suggested the Villa boss is set to be handed £50million to conclude a summer deal for either Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi or Bissouma - with the latter said to be more likely by one journalist.

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Dean Jones said: “At some point, he has to leave Brighton.

“He’s not going to stay there, and Aston Villa will be in a good position to sign him.”

Villa eyeing move for PSG star

Spanish outlet Fichajes have suggested Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is attracting interest from Aston Villa.

The former Liverpool star helped the Anfield club to the Premier League title and Champions League before departing to join the Parisian giants on a free transfer last summer.

Wijnaldum has endured an underwhelming stint in Ligue 1 and has been linked with a move back to the Premier League - with Villa, Newcastle and West Ham said to be monitoring the situation.

Reigning La Liga champions Atletico Madrid are also believed to be interested in the Dutch international.

Gerrard set to allow defender to leave

Football Insider have reported Villa defender Ezri Konsa will be allowed to leave the club this summer.

With speculation over a possible move for Liverpool star Joe Gomez gathering pace, Konsa’s future is said to be “up in the air” and Gerrard is not convinced by 24-year-old’s performances.

Konsa has made 23 appearances in all competitions so far this season and is set to return to the squad for Saturday’s trip to Brighton after a suspension ruled him out of the last two games.

Villa youngster receives praise from Swindon boss

Aston Villa prospect Louis Barry has been described as “very intelligent” by Swindon Town head coach Ben Garner.

The former Barcelona youngster is currently on loan with the League Two club and has scored three goals in just five appearances since moving to the County Ground.

After watching Barry score a brace in the midweek win against Walsall, Garner told the club website: “Yeah, there’s been a massive change in him since he walked through the door.

“He’s grown in confidence with each passing day. The group have accepted him straight away, which I think is a massive help.

“He’s fitted in really well, worked well in training, wants to learn, wants to improve. Very coachable, very, very coachable, takes things on. Tactically very intelligent.

“Yeah, the confidence of the goal at Carlisle and then these two finishes on Tuesday, for a young lad at eighteen-years-old to go in like that and show that composure is wonderful.”