Aston Villa ready £30m signing as transfer ban slapped down
Aston Villa are keen on signing Botafogo midfielder Thiago Almada with his January move to Lyon at risk of collapse, according to the Daily Star.
The newspaper reported in its print edition (30 December, page 39) that Villa are preparing to pounce for the £30million Argentine, with Emery having been a fan since his spell at Atlanta United.
Botafogo and Lyon are both owned by John Textor’s Eagle Football Group with Almada announcing he would be switching to the latter by 5 January, but the Ligue 1 side have been hit by a transfer ban.
Lyon being handed a ban on incomings by French football’s financial watchdog opens the door for Villa to sign Almada instead, despite the Brazilian side only signing him for £17m last summer.
Thiago Almada transfer is big risk for Aston Villa in January
Although Almada has proven an effective attacking midfielder for Atlanta United, Botafogo and Argentina – with two goals in his six caps – Villa should take the prospect of signing him with a pinch of salt.
Shelling out £30million mid-season is certainly a risk in terms of their already tight PSR boundaries, while the level Almada has played at suggests that such a fee could be a massive overestimation.
Signing a player with no experience of European football is always a leap of faith, and though Jhon Duran – signed from Chicago Fire in early 2023 – has been sensational this season, his fee was half the price.
Lyon may have shown a willingness to bring Almada across the pond, but given they are already a sister club to Botafogo, where he has three goals and two assists this term, their interest is almost a given.
Almada could well be a shrewd signing in the long run – as Duran has proven to be – but with Villa already well-stocked in attacking midfield, their January transfer funds may be better spent elsewhere.
In other Aston Villa news, Troy Deeney gave his verdict on Jhon Duran’s controversial red card at Newcastle on Boxing Day.
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