Aston Villa set sights on Man Utd transfer target as key man attracts 'interest' from elsewhere

Aston Villa picked up an impressive 2-0 away win at title contenders Arsenal last time out to boost their Champions League hopes. Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins scored their goals at the Emirates Stadium. 

Unai Emery’s side are back in action on Thursday with their Europa Conference League second leg against Lille away before they face AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend at home. In the meantime, here is a look at some of the latest transfer news and rumours coming out of the club…

Wing-back eyed

Aston Villa are interested in a move for Torino wing-back Raoul Bellanova along with fellow top flight outfit Manchester United ahead of the next campaign. According to a report by Italian news outlet CalcioMercato, he has emerged on the radar of Emery after an impressive season playing in Serie A. 

Bellanova, 23, only joined his current club last year but they could face a battle to keep hold of him amid interest from other clubs elsewhere. The Italy international, who has one cap under his belt for his country so far, has also been at AC Milan, Bordeaux, Cagliari and Inter Milan in the past and could try and test himself in England for the first time at some point in the near future. 

Boss wanted 

Emery is attracting attention from other teams after his impressive work at Aston Villa. The former Arsenal manager has worked wonders since moving to Villa Park. 

Reporter Fabrizio Romano has written on CaughtOffside he is fully ‘focused’ on his work at Villa amid ‘interest’ in him: “Emery has done a hugely impressive job at Aston Villa, and I’m aware some media pundits have been discussing and debating if he should be someone Liverpool are looking at to replace Jurgen Klopp. So why aren’t we seeing Emery linked with some of the top jobs available this summer?

“My understanding is that this is because Emery is fully focused on Aston Villa. Emery with Monchi, Damian Vidagany, are all together focusing on Villa’s European campaign this season and of course on a Champions League spot for next season. Nothing is concrete at this stage with other jobs; there’s interest for sure in Emery but he’s focusing on Villa now.”