Aston Villa 'stepping up interest' to buy £41m Arsenal and West Ham striker target

Aston Villa have reportedly stepped up their interest in signing Porto striker Samu Aghehowa this summer but face competition from a host of other Premier League clubs.

The 20-year-old has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 13 goals and making three assists in 19 Liga Portugal fixtures. Aghehowa has impressed on the nearby continent, too, netting six times in nine UEFA Europa League outings until recently being knocked out in the play-off stage by AS Roma.

The Villans are eager to sign a long-term replacement for Jhon Duran following the Colombian’s £67.5 million departure for Al-Nassr in January. Unai Emery was hopeful Duran would want to stay but the striker opted for a transfer to the Saudi Pro League instead – and Villa were delighted to bank such a hefty profit within just two years of signing him from Chicago Fire.

Although versatile attacking trio Donyell Malen, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio all joined in the winter transfer window, only Malen is a permanent addition. The other two could theoretically join for the longer term if Villa activate Rashford’s £40 million buy clause and Paris Saint-Germain extend Asensio’s loan, but there are no guarantees.

Malen is the only one of the three who Emery feels comfortable playing as an out-and-out striker, too, so signing a replacement for Duran could still be necessary even if Rashford and Asensio stay. That’s what the latest speculation suggests, anyway.

Caught Offside reports Aghehowa is very much on Villa’s radar with the club “majorly stepping up their interest” ahead of the next transfer window. It’s claimed the striker will be available for around €50 million (£41.3m) despite only joining Porto last summer from Atletico Madrid.

The report also states Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham United all hold a strong interest in signing Aghehowa this summer, so the competition is fierce. All three London clubs are in need of a new striker - arguably more so than Villa - so game time probably wouldn’t be an issue at any of those destinations.

Aghehowa changes name from Omorodion

A debutant for the senior Spain national team last November in a 3-2 UEFA Nations League victory over Switzerland, Aghehowa is certainly living up to the potential so many people spoke of when he was still playing in La Liga. It came as a big surprise when Porto managed to secure his services as interest was widespread, but in order to get the deal done the Portuguese club only secured 50 per cent of his transfer rights. The other half remains with Atletico.

Aghehowa also recently changed his name from Omorodion, doing so in the same month he made his debut for Spain. The decision was made to honour his mother’s involvement in his upbringing; Aghehowa believed representing her name on the big stage was the least he could do to give back.

Spain are very gifted with midfielders and wingers but have struggled to field a consistent number nine for many years now. It’s hoped Aghehowa can be the man to help lead Luis de la Fuente’s men to further glory following their recent UEFA EURO 2024 success.