‘Busy end to the window’ - Aston Villa aim to replace Jhon Duran with incredible £70m Brazil forward

Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa are believed to be planning a statement £70m move for talented Wolves forward Matheus Cunha in the coming days.

Villa are expected to earn a figure of around £65m plus add-ons for Jhon Duran, whose imminent move to Saudi Arabia will make him the second most expensive sale in the club’s history behind £100m academy graduate Jack Grealish.

Duran has enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom this season and was in particular one of Villa’s most important players in Europe as they secured an eighth place finish and an automatic place in the last 16 of the competition that they famously won back in 1982.

Overall, the Colombian scored 12 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions this season, proving himself as a worthwhile alternative to Ollie Watkins when the club needed an impact from the bench.

With the hectic schedule of Champions League matches, the FA Cup run and a battle to climb the Premier League table, Villa are keen to reinvest some of the Duran earnings into new recruits as soon as possible.

Aston Villa push to sign Matheus Cunha

Aston Villa are preparing a blockbuster offer for in-form Wolves star Matheus Cunha, according to reports from Mail Sport.

Cunha has been in excellent form for Wolves with 10 goals and four assists in 22 matches and has emerged as the club’s most important player in recent months as the Old Gold aim to fend off the threat of relegation to the Championship.

Villa are allowed to add three players to their Champions League squad after the signings of Donyell Malen and Andrés García and have earmarked Cunha as the calibre of player that can help the club progress deep into the competition.

Cunha has European experience from his time at Atletico Madrid and has also proven that he can thrive in the Premier League from his time at Molinuex. He has two and half years remaining in his contract but talks over an extension have stalled in recent weeks.

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira insists he is doing everything he can to retain the services of Cunha but admits that speculation over the player’s future has been a distraction in recent weeks.

The likes of Manchester United and Arsenal are also credited with interest in the Brazilian international, who has a reported value of around £70m, according to reports.

Who else could Aston Villa target?

Aston Villa are extremely keen to bolster their attacking options and are believed to be in discussions over moves for Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Marcos Asensio and Chelsea ace Joao Felix.

Former Real Madrid star Asensio has mainly played as a central attacking midfielder throughout his career but in recent weeks has been shifted to a false nine role under Luis Enrique. He is technically gifted, composed in tight areas of the pitch and is renowned for his pinpoint passing and crossing qualities.

Meanwhile, Felix has played most of his career as a striker at Benfica, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, but has also proved he can operate behind the striker as a number 10.

"Regarding the names we are considering and the profile [Villa coach] Unai [Emery] is looking for, they [Félix and Asensio] are similar players and are to Unai's liking," Monchi told ESPN.