'Offer submitted' - Aston Villa accelerate move to win transfer race for €4m bargain wonderkid

Aston Villa are looking to press on with their January transfer business, after concluding a £21 million move for Netherlands international Donyel Malen on Tuesday.

Unai Emery will have been delighted to get a key target over the line midway through the window, and the club's recruitment team will now look to push on and make further signings before the Premier League’s Deadline Day in early February.

Reports over the weekend revealed that Villa had made an approach for Caen youngster Tidiam Gomes, with the 18-year-old forward seen as an ideal signing for the future, given his impressive potential.

Now, fresh reports from Africa Foot, via Sport Witness, have claimed that Villa are battling RB Leipzig to sign the talented youngster. The Bundesliga side appear to be a real thorn in the side of Villa's president of football operations Monchi in the winter window, with the club also said to be rivalling Villa for the signing of Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza.

However, the latest report on Gomes suggests that the Villans have now made a second offer for the player, as they look to drive the deal over the line as quickly as possible. The story also indicates that it will be a case of the highest offer being chosen, and that Villa are currently ahead in the transfer race.

It also states that Villa have an advantage over Leipzig in their pursuit of the France U19 international, but fail to give any details on what the specifics of this upper hand are.

Who else could Aston Villa sign this month?

As is to be expected in any transfer window, a club of Villa's stature will always be linked with a host of potential signings, as agents look to secure lucrative moves for their clients.

The club's most pressing transfer target now appears to be Sevilla defender Loic Bade, with the club said to have lodged a bid in the region of £12.5m earlier this week. However, it is likely that the Spanish side will hold out for an offer closer to £18.5m, and ask for Villa man Diego Carlos on loan as part of the agreement.

Given that Newcastle United and Liverpool are also both said to be keen on the ex-Nottingham Forest loanee, the pressure is on for Villa to push the deal through, but having Carlos to sweeten the deal be could well be enough to see their offer selected over those from their Premier League rivals.

Meanwhile, BirminghamWorld understands that Jaden Philogene is still on course to complete a £20m move to Ipswich Town, with just the final details of the move still to be ironed out. Once complete, Villa will make a profit in the region of £6.5m, having activated a buy-back clause to ensure the 22-year-old returned from Hull City for £13.5m last summer.

Who do Aston Villa play next?

Villa are gearing up for a match against Premier League rivals Everton, with the Wednesday night encounter being particularly notable for it being Toffees manager David Moyes' first match in charge, after rejoining the club nearly 12 years on from leaving them for Manchester United.

Key players Pau Torres, John McGinn and Ross Barkley are all out through injury, but Emery will be pleased to see the return of Morgan Rogers, who hasn't played in the Premier League this calendar year after he was suspended for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in last month's 2-2 draw with Brighton.

Two further away matches will follow for Villa, with a trip to Arsenal in the Premier League and a Champions League clash in Monaco waiting on the horizon. As things stand, the Villans are sitting fifth in the new-look table, and will be looking to pick up further precious points to secure an automatic place in the competition’s knock-out stages.