Aston Villa can fulfil Steven Gerrard desire as Yves Bissouma finally there for taking

Yves Bissouma has been linked to Aston Villa on and off for years and is now there for the taking.

The Mali international has been a Premier League regular since moving to Brighton in the summer of 2022.

He was undoubtedly at his best in his days with the Seagulls and attracted strong interest from throughout the Premier League.

The midfielder went on to complete four seasons at the Amex Stadium before sealing a move to Tottenham.

Things haven't worked out in North London and he may ponder what could have been if he had moved to Villa Park.

There is a chance that a deal finally goes through in B6, four years after Steven Gerrard wanted him in claret and blue.

Steven Gerrard wanted Yves Bissouma at Aston Villa in January 2022

Unai Emery has certainly got the best out of his side since coming in as head coach in November 2022.

His reign begun at the end of a dismal spell under the former Liverpool skipper.

Nothing went right for the Englishman in his second season with the Villans and he was eventually sacked.

That wasn't always the case in his first where the addition of Philippe Coutinho certainly made a splash.

The Brazilian came in on loan from Barcelona in January 2022, but he was nearly joined by Bissouma.

He was heading into the final 18 months of his contract and Sky Sports reported back then that Villa were interested.

A deal obviously never went through and he joined Tottenham five months later, but the Malian could well be on his way to B6 this summer.

Bissouma available for free after Tottenham exit

It has been far from a dream spell for the 29-year-old with Tottenham Hotspur.

He hasn't ever been a consistent regular throughout his four seasons in N17, with his most outings coming under Ange Postecoglou in the 2024-25 season.

Bissouma made just 11 total appearances throughout the most recent campaign and has now been released.

Tottenham released a statement on Wednesday to confirm their retained list, with the Mali star departing with his contract now expired.

That could open the door for Villa to make a move this summer, with the midfielder also linked with a switch in 2025 with Unai Emery in charge.

There is undoubtedly a player there and on a free transfer could represent a shrewd piece of business if he can rediscover his best form.