Aston Villa ‘begin talks to sign’ wonderkid duo for Unai Emery
Aston Villa are already putting plans in place for the summer, despite the winter transfer window only closing a matter of days ago
Villa certainly had an active few weeks on the transfer front across January and early February, bringing in five players on both loan and permanent deals, with no less than 15 heading the other way.
Decisions on the likes of Marcus Rashford – whose loan deal from Manchester United includes an option to buy – and Marco Asensio, whose loan from PSG can be extended, will have to be made in the summer.
However, the two high-profile arrivals aren’t the only players Villa are planning to make decisions on in the coming months, with two teenagers on the other side of Europe also firmly in the Lions’ line of sight.
Aston Villa want to sign Olympiacos wonderkids
According to Birmingham World (11 February), the Villans and Arsenal are just two of four Premier League clubs interested in signing Charalampos Kostoulas and Christos Mouzakitis, both of Olympiacos.
The “wonderkid” duo have both been regular starters in the Greek Super League this term, with Villa and Arsenal already making contact with the Piraeus side; Manchester United and Brentford have also sent scouts to watch them.
Striker Kostoulas, 17, is Villa’s preferred option of the two teenagers having netted five times in 18 Super League matches, while 18-year-old midfielder Mouzakitis has already played for Greece’s senior side.
Villa’s preference may be to sign Kostoulas, but Unai Emery is keen to secure both players’ signatures.
Aston Villa make transfer priorities clear amid latest activity
Although Aston Villa signed players of all ages, positions and reputations in the winter transfer window just gone, their planned business ahead of the summer suggests a clear change in strategy.
Having already announced the arrival of 18-year-old centre-back Yasin Ozcan from Kasimpasa, Villa expanding their search for top teenage talent has now seen them land on Kostoulas and Mouzakitis.
With three other Premier League big-hitters keen on the Olympiacos duo, it remains to be seen if either will be pitching up at Bodymoor Heath in the near future, but Villa’s standing will surely help their efforts.
The 22-year-old Andres Garcia – signed from Levante in Spain’s second-tier – was Villa’s only winter arrival under the age of 26, with Asensio the oldest at 29, and Rashford, who has been been tipped to shine at Aston Villa, is in his peak years at 27.
There are no guarantees that latter duo will have long-term futures at Villa Park, but with their pursuits of Kostoulas and Mouzakitis, it’s clear that Emery and Monchi certainly have that long-term future in mind.