Aston Villa 'overtake' Leeds United in race to sign goal-hungry defender - he's the cousin of a Villa star
The latest Premier League transfer news as Aston Villa and Leeds United compete for a Bundesliga gem.
Aston Villa are reportedly leading the race to sign a Bundesliga defender but face competition from fellow Premier League side Leeds United.
Unai Emery is eager to bolster his defensive depth as the Villans aim to return to the UEFA Champions League. Financial restrictions have remained and stopped Emery from going after some of his top targets, but the club has still managed to do some effective business.
Promising winger Alysson was the first to join as he signed from Gremio for £10 million, before 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo arrived from FC Metz in a deal worth a similar amount. Since then, Donyell Malen left for Roma in a £25 million loan-to-buy move and Villa have re-signed two former fan favourites in Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz.
Villa likely aren’t done there, though, as Emery seeks to get his squad in the best possible shape. The Villans, still in the FA Cup and in the upper echelons of the Premier League and Europa League, are hoping to remain competitive on all fronts.
Aston Villa in ‘pole position’ to sign Leeds United target
In this case, Villa may not only be focusing on the here and now but also on the summer as there’s a soon-to-be free agent available. Clubs can now talk to Union Berlin centre-back Danilho Doekhi and it appears Emery is hot on the Dutchman’s heels.
German publication Bild reports Doekhi will leave Union when his contract expires at the end of the season, with no renewal on the cards. Leeds are credited with an interest but Villa are also in the conversation. Meanwhile, TEAMtalk reports Villa have overtaken Leeds in the race to sign Doekhi and are now in pole position.
In his prime at 27 years of age, Doekhi has been a pivotal player for Union ever since he signed from Vitesse back in 2022. The defender has proven to be quite the goal threat, scoring 12 times in the Bundesliga in the past three and a half seasons, including four goals in 19 league matches so far this term.
Although yet to make a senior appearance for the Netherlands national team, Doekhi turned out for the Dutch Under-21 side and he has developed a reputation as a reliable centre-half in the German top flight. Whether Doekhi can translate that to the Premier League awaits to be seen, but he’s surely worth a go for free.
Is Doekhi related to Bogarde?
Villa could have an extra advantage in the race to sign Doekhi as the defender is bizarrely related to Lamare Bogarde. The pair are cousins as Doekhi is the nephew of former Dutch international Winston Bogarde, Lamare’s father.
Having such a familial connection can surely only have a positive impact on Villa’s chances of luring Doekhi to B6, unless the defender doesn’t get on with Bogarde, at least. Perhaps Bogarde should get on the phone to his cousin to seal the deal.