Aston Villa ‘pressing ahead’ with swoop for international defender as ‘£25.8m bid’ prepared

Aston Villa are now preparing for the new campaign after returning for pre-season.

Steven Gerrard will have to wait to see some of his international stars again, but much of the squad are now back at Bodymoor Heath.

A big season awaits Villa after a bold summer so far, with the Lions strengthening significantly with a number of key signings.

Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara, Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen have all been snapped up, and we could yet see more incomings.

Outgoings will also be important, with Gerrard needing to optimally shape his squad ahead of the new season.

With that in mind, we have rounded up all the latest transfer news and rumours:

Gomez offer

Villa are said to be ‘pressing on’ with a move for Liverpool star Joe Gomez.

The Lions were linked with the defender earlier in the window, but everything went quiet after it was claimed Gomez wouldn’t be leaving Anfield this summer.

According to The Daily Star, Villa are now preparing a £30million bid with the view of pressing ahead in their pursuit of Gomez.

That’s a little surprising, in that the Midlands club have already spend significantly to land another centre-back in Diego Carlos this summer.

It will be interesting to see how Liverpool, and indeed Gomez, respond.

Otavio interest

Villa are also said to be weighing up an offer for Porto winger Otavio.

A Bola via Inside Futbol claim Villa are readying an offer worth £25.8million with a further add-ons packaged worth almost £4million.

Otavio is said to have a release clause worth as much as £51million, so Porto would have to be willing to accept only just over half of what the clause is worth.

The Portugal international has also been linked with a number of other clubs this summer, but he remains a key part of Porto’s plans going forward.