Aston Villa interested in signing Espanyol striker Raul de Tomas but have ‘one concern’

Aston Villa are being linked with a move for Espanyol striker Raul de Tomas.

Villa are reportedly in the hunt for a forward and reports in Spain claim Villa are hoping to sign the Spaniard, with Everton, Newcastle and West Ham also interested in bringing the 27-year-old to the Premier League.

According to the Daily Mail, although Steven Gerrard is interested in de Tomas, the club reportedly have ‘concerns about his work-rate off the ball’.

De Tomas scored 17 goals last season as he went on to become Espanyol’s top goalscorer. There have been reports that Ollie Watkins could leave Villa this summer, meaning a move for de Tomas would make sense - although reports of a bust-up between Watkins and Steven Gerrard have been brandished as ‘nonsense’ by the club.

It had been reported that Villa were looking to sell Watkins during this transfer window and that the England international has a difficult relationship with Gerrard. Watkins was also left out of the starting line-up during Villa’s opening day defeat at Bournemouth.

However, the club’s communications director has branded the rumours as ‘absolute nonsense’ on Twitter.

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