Aston Villa backed to strike ‘quality’ Manuel Locatelli signing as £6.7m-a-year news emerges
Manuel Locatelli has emerged as a transfer target for Aston Villa.
Juventus have made Locatelli available for sale in January, with Unai Emery and Co. showcasing an interest in the midfielder’s signature.
This could be what the claret and blue outfit needs, especially with Youri Tielemans’ Villa absence after picking up an injury against Everton.
Villa target Locatelli is on a reported £6.7million-a-year at Juventus, but a cut-price deal could become possible at Villa Park in the coming months.
This could see the claret and blue outfit make the most of their relationship with the Old Lady to make a swoop for Locatelli.
Juventus could green-light Manuel Locatelli to Aston Villa
Villa let Douglas Luiz join Juventus before last season, as Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea moved in the other direction.
This came as a huge blow at the time, but may prove to represent a boost in the upcoming transfer windows.
The Villans could reap the benefits of this with Locatelli, as the Old Lady welcomes the departure of the 27-year-old after over four seasons in Turin.
Former Villa scout Bryan King believes this prior relationship will benefit the claret and blue outfit as they look to improve their already strong midfield options.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, King said: “Locatelli is certainly a quality player.
“Getting a player of that quality is always good.
“Villa have had a little bit of business with Juventus in the past, so I think that could be a very good signing for them.
“When you’ve got players of that quality, they can play in several positions if you need them to.”
Locatelli would add superb depth for Aston Villa
Villa certainly have strength to spare in the midfield area after completing many clever signings in that area of the pitch over the years.
Having signed both Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara, the addition of yet another experienced head wouldn’t go amiss.
Aston Villa midfield options:
- Youri Tielemans
- Boubacar Kamara
- John McGinn
- Amadou Onana
- Ross Barkley
- Lamare Bogarde
This could see Locatelli come in and make an immediate impact if given a fair chance, something which may prove difficult in a fully fit squad.
It will be interesting to see if the B6 club can push a deal over the line in January or next summer and how that would change the complexion of Villa’s midfield moving forward.
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