Aston Villa respond to £15m bid as interest renewed in 14-goal striker

Villa are reportedly set to re-enter negotiations with Besiktas in January over the potential signing of wonderkid striker Semih Kilicsoy.

The Villans saw two bids rejected in the summer but are confident they can land their man through a renewed approach. Kilicsoy, still just 19, has contributed 14 goals and seven assists in 56 senior appearances for Besiktas, four outings of which have been in the UEFA Europa League.

Turkish publication Star reports Villa are ‘continuing to insist’ for Kilicsoy as they look to ‘respond’ to their failed summer bids with improved terms. It’s claimed the Villans are willing to eclipse their previous highest offer of €18million (£15m) in an attempt to brush away the competition.

Said competition is fierce, however, as the report suggests Paris Saint-Germain have already ‘made a move’ to sign Kilicsoy. Luis Enrique’s team have knocked on Besiktas’ door ahead of a January swoop, already moving closer to reaching an agreement on personal terms with the player.

Four-time Turkey international Kilicsoy has also been linked to the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund following his breakthrough in the Super Lig. It’s bound to be a hotly-contested fight for the striker’s signature.

With hot prospect Jhon Duran currently struggling to work his way into Villa’s starting XI, there are doubts over how Kilicsoy could settle into a rhythm in the West Midlands. That’s seemingly not a concern for Villa themselves, though, as evident with their several offers lodged earlier this year.