‘Stumbling block’ emerges as Aston Villa attempt £30m transfer offload

Villa full-back Matty Cash is the subject of serious interest from Milan as the Italian giants seek to improve the right side of defence.

An official enquiry has already been made for Cash, who was a regular starter as Villa earned a remarkable fourth-placed Premier League finish to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Ezri Konsa was and always will be ahead of Cash in the pecking order but the Villa number two’s versatility was a huge helping hand. Unai Emery could rotate the two players between competitions or even push Cash further up the field as a right midfielder.

The Athletic reports Milan, who have a long-standing interest, have been keeping a close eye on Cash’s progress. The 15-time Poland international was a shock omission from the Eagles’ Euro 2024 squad but he was a fairly reliable option for Emery during the season just gone.

It’s stated that Villa have responded to Milan’s enquiry, demanding £30 million (€35.6 million) to consider a sale. The Italian side, said to be taken aback by that figure, see the valuation as a stumbling block. Whittling down the fee is a requirement if Milan are to lodge an official offer.

This is due to the club’s preference to not spend big on one player, but rather spread out transfer funds. The Athletic states Milan often enquire about a large pool of players and assess their clubs’ respective valuations before proceeding.

Cash asking price could drop to please Milan

Villa may be tempted to sell Cash, even at a lower price, as there are doubts over his technical ability. There are often loose touches throughout matches and his positioning can also be a bit wayward at times, giving opposition attackers the opportunity to breach gaps.

But those weaknesses aside, and Cash offers strengths at both ends of the field. He often turns up in big matches, too, namely with his late goal to take Villa to extra time in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals in Lille. It’s certainly one to watch, this.