Aston Villa manager Unai Emery [Credit: Imago]
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery [Credit: Imago]
Transfers

Aston Villa lead race to sign Bazoumana Toure as Hammarby transfer update emerges

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Aston Villa are one of the clubs leading the race to sign Hammarby gem Bazoumana Toure, according to Fotboll Skanalen.

The Swedish source reported [24 October] that Villa are facing competition from Premier League duo West Ham and Brighton, with Wolves, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen credited with interest.

Toure has notched six goals and two assists in 20 appearances this season, and Hammarby are expecting to receive around £8.3million if the club are to sell their 18-year-old winger [Fotboll Direkt].

Aston Villa to battle for Bazoumana Toure's signature?

Toure has certainly shown plenty of promise in the top tier of Swedish football, notching eight goal contributions in 20 appearances, having started 18 of Hammarby's 27 league matches so far.

The Ivory Coast Under-20s international has attracted plenty of interest since arriving at Hammarby in February so Villa will need to battle hard if Unai Emery is to add him to the squad.

With Champions League football, a move to Villa Park should be a very attractive prospect for a teenager currently plying his trade in Sweden, having entered into a new era under Emery.

Villa currently sit atop the Champions League table after the first three matches, beating Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna, so European football looks like it is here to stay.

Of course, the manager has a rather talented squad, with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Jhon Duran, Emi Buendia, Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey starring in the final third.

Unai Emery
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery [Credit: Imago]

It could be tempting to add Toure to the current set-up, however, and Emery has not been afraid of promoting some of the youngsters to the first team in recent games.

With Hammarby looking for over £8million, Villa must be sure he would be the right fit for Emery's squad, but with his showings so far, it could be worth the risk to bring him to the Premier League.

In other Aston Villa news, Villa would welcome Marcus Rashford as a January development emerges at Manchester United.

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Aston Villa
Hammarby
Bazoumana Toure
www.astonvillanews.co.uk