Aston Villa not targeting Tomas Soucek during midfielder hunt – report
Aston Villa are drawing up a midfield shortlist for this summer, but West Ham’s Tomas Soucek will not be on it according to the Birmingham Mail.
Soucek had been linked with a move to B6 earlier this summer, with The Sun tipping Villa to make a move for the Czech star back in June.
However, the Birmingham Mail dismissed those rumours in a Q&A on Monday morning (18 July), reporting that Soucek is “not on Villa’s radar.”
The report also rubbished links with Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher but did mention that sporting director Johan Lange is in England drawing up a shortlist for a midfielder.
It seems that Villa are not in advanced negotiations for any arrivals, with Steven Gerrard still focused on cutting the fat of the squad.
What profile of midfielder will Villa look for?
While trying to predict Villa’s transfer strategy is frustrating given how secretive they are, reason would suggest that Villa would be more likely to pursue a new central midfielder rather than a holding player.
Gerrard has already brought in Boubacar Kamara to operate in the holding position and has Marvelous Nakamba as a dependable backup.
Douglas Luiz is also looking increasingly likely to remain at the club for at least another year, further congesting the holding role.
This makes it more likely that Villa will pursue a more advanced player, though the resurgence of Morgan Sanson could throw a spanner in the works.
Despite being linked with a move to Galatasaray by the Express & Star in June, Sanson has impressed so far in pre-season and has displayed much-improved fitness levels.
Sanson is a talented player in his own right, but he may have to be moved on soon if Villa are to bring in a new midfielder.
Villa not pursuing either Soucek or Gallagher is disappointing, but they will surely know who the right player to bring in is.
In other Aston Villa news, Ezri Konsa is back fit more than a month earlier than expected.