Aston Villa advancing with talks to sign €35m Liverpool and RB Leipzig target

The Villans are determined to sign defender Lutsharel Geertruida from Feyenoord before Friday’s transfer deadline, hurried by the recent injury to right-back Matty Cash.

Our sister publication, Express & Star, reports talks have been ongoing for a while and are progressing now the need for a right-sided defender has increased. Cash is expected to miss around a month with a hamstring issue and Kosta Nedeljkovic - albeit a brilliant prospect - isn’t quite Premier League ready.

Unai Emery told Birmingham World after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal that he would much prefer to keep Ezri Konsa at centre-half and use Nedeljkovic as the backup. There was a sense of unsureness in the manager’s voice, though, and he then admitted Villa could dip into the transfer market.

“We are trying to be demanding how we can improve the squad, how we can improve some circumstances. Maybe we will need time to be stronger and this week we are going to analyse if there’s something we can add,” Emery said.

Geertruida, predominantly a right-back or centre-back but also capable of featuring as a defensive midfielder or left-back, could be useful in an array of circumstances. Cover in several positions could be vital throughout such a busy season to come, especially in the UEFA Champions League.

Villa could theoretically ask Ian Maatsen to help convince Geertruida to follow him to Villa Park as the pair are international teammates. As per the report from Express & Star, Feyenoord are demanding around €35 million (£30 million) to sell their star defender.

Liverpool to challenge Villa as price tag emerges

Liverpool have been linked with Geertruida throughout the summer and a report from HITC as recently as last week suggests the Reds are still keen. Arne Slot’s side sent a scout to watch the defender in action for Feyenoord against PEC Zwolle. Red Bull Leipzig, meanwhile, are interested as per transfer news journalist Fabrizio Romano.