'Contact made' - Aston Villa and Newcastle United enter discussions over blockbuster £42.1m striker transfer
The latest transfer news as Aston Villa and Newcastle United make contact for a striker signing.
Aston Villa are reportedly stepping up their interest in Porto striker Samu Aghehowa but face competition from two Premier League rivals.
Unai Emery is eager to sign a new forward this summer to compete with - and at times rotate in for - Ollie Watkins to help Villa move to the next level. Champions League football wasn’t secured at the end of last season but Europa League qualification was, meaning Villa are now established as a continental outfit with three successive campaigns soon to be under their belts.
To help continue on their upward trajectory, Villa are eager to make several important signings this summer. Business cannot be too immediate as the club must first make a significant sale or several to conform to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), but that hasn’t stopped Villa from thinking beyond the June 30 PSR deadline.
Of course, Villa will still have to be careful that they don’t throw themselves into a PSR trap for this time next year, but the threat of punishment will be loosened. Birmingham World understands the Villans want to sign a new versatile left winger, a young forward, a central midfielder, a right-back, a centre-back and a goalkeeper. It will be tricky to sort out every position, but an effort will be made.
Feyenoord hot prospect Zepiqueno Redmond, a striker, has already agreed to sign for Villa at the start of July but he’s expected to join up with the under-21 setup to begin with. To ensure Villa’s first team is covered, Emery could yet sanction a move for a second new centre-forward.
Aston Villa ‘in contact’ over major striker transfer
Aghehowa, who Porto signed from Atletico Madrid last summer by buying 50 per cent of his rights for £15 million, could be an option. The 21-year-old was in scintillating form as he scored 19 goals and provided three assists in 30 Liga Portugal matches. Aghehowa impressed on the nearby continent, too, netting six times in nine UEFA Europa League outings until being knocked out in the play-off stage by AS Roma.
Spanish publication SPORT reports - via Total Villa - that contacts have begun over a potential deal to sign Aghehowa. It’s claimed Villa and Newcastle United, both eager on signing the centre-forward, have entered informal talks to discuss the possible demands from Porto.
Aghehowa has a release clause of €100 million (£84.2m) inserted in his Porto contract but he could be available for significantly less than that. A previous report suggested the Liga Portugal club would be willing to accept around €50 million (£42.1m) for the clinical attacker’s services.
It’s been an impressive rise from Aghehowa after leaving Atletico for Porto last summer. The Spaniard was in advanced talks with Chelsea at one stage but the transfer never materialised as he was convinced by Porto president Andre Villas Boas to move to Portugal instead.
A debutant for the senior Spain national team last November in a 3-2 UEFA Nations League victory over Switzerland, the Aghehowa is certainly living up to the potential so many people spoke of when he was still playing in La Liga. Aghehowa, who last year changed his name from Omorodion, has two caps to his name so far.