Aston Villa could be set to deal a very big blow to West Ham United in the summer transfer window.
West Ham are already finding Premier League rivals Aston Villa to be more than a mild inconvenience this summer.
It was reported two weeks ago that the Villans were attempting to hijack the Hammers’ move to sign Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
Torino defender Raoul Bellanova is another one who is allegedly on the radars of the two Premier League clubs.
And then just yesterday it emerged that Villa are closing in on the signing of long-term Tim Steidten target Ian Maatsen.
Unai Emery is clearly overseeing a hugely ambitious project at Villa Park, and Julen Lopetegui will really have his work cut-out if he is to beat his fellow countryman to some of his transfer targets this summer.
Now Villa are set to attempt to beat the Hammers to yet another player…
Aston Villa move in to sign £68 million West Ham target
Villa are one of the richest and most ambitious clubs in the Premier League right now.
So it’s little wonder as to why the west Midlands club may be making Lopetegui and co nervous this summer.
Aston Villa could be set to beat West Ham to the signing of a truly elite attacker.
O Jogo (print edition June 19th, page 21) claim that Emery is attempting to bring Pedro Gonvalves to the Premier League this summer.
The 25-year-old has a £60 million release clause inserted into his current contract with Sporting (The Sun), although O Jogo claim that it’s closer to £68 million.
He was in absolutely sensational form for Sporting last season, and bagged 18 goals and 17 assists in 49 games. In total for the Portuguese giants, he has 76 goals and 51 assists in 178 games to his name (Transfermarkt).
CBS once described Goncalves as ‘astonishing’, and they’re spot on – he’s a real talent.
The right-footed attacker can play on either wing or in the number 10 position, and he would add real quality and genuine variety to the Hammers’ play inside the final third.
However, it seems like Aston Villa could be set to cause West Ham some real misery this summer, and Lopetegui may well have to look elsewhere for a marquee attacking signing.
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