Aston Villa have been dealt a blow as one of their summer targets has confirmed they are ‘in talks’ with their current club over a new contract.
Unai Emery and Monchi’s main priority right now is sales, with Aston Villa needing an injection of cash in order to ensure they do not breach Premier League Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
The deadline for that is 30th June and the shortfall in money the club have to make up is likely to see both Jhon Duran and Douglas Luiz leave in high-profile deals.
Once that deadline has passed, Villa can start to shift their focus to improving the squad ahead of a Champions League campaign.
However, they have now received some bad news on that front, as one of their transfer targets to resolve a problem position has confirmed he sees his future at his current club.
Denzel Dumfries speaks on love for Inter Milan amid Aston Villa interest
Right-back is one of the key positions Villa are looking to strengthen this summer, with Matty Cash struggling towards the end of the season and showing he is perhaps not ready for the step up that the Champions League will bring.
Ezri Konsa has filled in, but the England international’s best position is centre-back and a right-back is therefore being targeted to allow him to return to a central berth.
Denzel Dumfries is a name that has been linked, with the attack-minded full-back currently representing Netherlands at Euro 2024.
It has previously been reported that Villa could capitalise on Inter Milan’s financial difficulties to secure a deal for Dumfries for a fee of around £26 million, with there being no question he would improve the side.
Their pursuit of Dumfries could end empty-handed, though, as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed on ‘X’ that the player is keen to stay at Inter.
Romano posted: ‘Denzel Dumfries: “I think my future will be at Inter, yes. It’s a top club and I love it, I feel at home at Inter.
“We are in negotiations over new deal, there’s new ownership so we will see what happens – but Inter is my family, I really love the club”, told Sky’.
Dumfries statistics show why Aston Villa want him
Dumfries has been one of the star performers for Netherlands in the last three major tournaments, with the right wing-back position he plays for his country suiting his skillset.
Inter also play with a back three, allowing Dumfries to get forward at will and with Emery liking his full-backs to play high and wide he could be the perfect signing.
Given Inter’s financial woes, Villa may well be minded to test the waters with a bid despite Dumfries’ comments.
Dumfries is a very capable defender but it is his attacking ability that make him a really attractive option. In his senior career, including for the national team, the full-back has scored an impressive 39 goals and provided 69 assists.
For the sake of comparison, Cash has 26 goals and 28 assists in his own senior career. This means that Dumfries has recorded 54 more goal contributions than the current Villa right-back across his career.
After watching Dumfries’ constant surges down the right for the Netherland’s at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Rio Ferdinand was full of praise for the Inter star.
Ferdinand said: “He’s integral, just like Daley Blind, to the way that Louis van Gaal works.
“They’re the outlet that get beyond, and he’s a player you look at and think that he’s athletic, can beat people one-on-one. It’s not just about being there, it’s the quality.
“He’s not putting balls in willy-nilly, he’s picking people out, those cutbacks have been ever so dangerous. He doesn’t mind working at the other end of the pitch, as well. He’s been a breath of fresh air for them and a very important player.”
Ollie Watkins would thrive off the service Dumfries would provide from the right and Villa should be doing all they can to secure his signing despite his latest comments.
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