The countdown is on for Saturday August 6 when Aston Villa visit Bournemouth in their new Premier League campaign.
Boss Steven Gerrard looks set to have a new-look side ready for the curtain raiser after being very active early on in the transfer window. Boubacar Kamara signed as a free transfer from Marseille just after the end of last season and has since been joined by Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos, while Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen have made their loan moves permanent.
Gerrard is now keen to further add to his squad after selling Matt Targett to Newcastle for £15million after his successful loan and there could be further out-goings among fringe players. Mirror Sport takes a look at the latest Villa transfer news and rumours.
Swedish international targeted
Villa are in talks to sign Sevilla left-back Ludwig Augustinsson as Gerrard targets a fifth summer signing, according to the Daily Mail. The outlet says Villa have been in regular contact with La Liga club Sevilla and are now close to agreeing a loan deal for the Sweden international who has 45 caps for his country. Targett's departure for Newcastle United has left Gerrard wanting more cover for the role despite tying Ashley Young to a new deal. Augustinsson, 28, will provide cover and competition for Lucas Digne who arrived from Everton in January.
Augustinsson only joined Sevilla in a deal of almost £10million last year but is now set for a second move in two seasons. He made 115 appearances for Bundesliga side Werder Bremen prior to moving to Spain having previously lifted league and cup titles in Denmark and Sweden. Sevilla have reportedly identified Tottenham Hotspur left-back Sergio Reguilon as a potential replacement.
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Czech mate for Gerrard
West Ham defensive midfielder Tomas Soucek could be available for £40million this summer according to Football Fancast as the midfielder has just two years left on his contract. The 27-year-old, who joined the east London club on loan from Slavia Prague in January 2020, later secured a permanent transfer that summer on a four-year deal worth £18m. He has since made 101 appearances for David Moyes’ side across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and providing two assists. But now he is being linked with the exit and Villa boss Gerrard has been tipped to chase the midfielder along with Spurs and Juventus if Soucek fails to sign a new deal at the Hammers.
Davies and Broja decisions
Villa loanee Keinan Davies played a key role in helping Nottingham Forest to promotion last term. But Gerrard has ordered the striker back for pre-season to assess him and figure out his future. And now newly-promoted Forest, who made Omar Richards their fifth summer signing, could be about to move on to new attacking targets. According to transfer insider Rudy Galetti, Forest are interested in signing Albania international striker Armando Broja this summer. Everton, West Ham and Southampton are all keen on signing the young Chelsea striker after he impressed whilst out on loan with Southampton, with nine goals making him the second-highest scoring player for the Saints last season behind James Ward-Prowse. But reports now claim Villa could be about to enter the race for the striker's services too.
