Aston Villa may still have two games left to play but boss Steven Gerrard is keen to crack on with the club’s transfer business.
The Villa boss is believed to be targeting as many as six new additions this summer after kicking off his spending spree with the £17million signing of Philippe Coutinho last week and ideally wants his new faces in place by the time Villa jet off to Australia for their pre-season tour in mid-July.
A holding midfielder, new defender and a striker are all thought to be on his list as Villa aim to strengthen the spine of their side in the summer as they plan an assault on the European places next season. Here's the latest Aston Villa transfer rumours...
Wolfsburg defender linked
Villa are one of three Premier League clubs that hold an interest in Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix, according to reports.
Lacroix, 22, was part of the German side which finished a disappointing 12th in the Bundesliga and the French Under-20 international could now review his future after being linked with Premier League clubs according to French website Jeunes Footeux.
The defender, signed from FC Sochaux in 2020, is under contract until 2025 but is now likely to be sold for a decent offer. Lacroix was one of the fastest players in the entire Bundesliga last season, clocking a top speed of 22.2 miles per hour only behind Jeremiah St Juste, Erling Haaland and Alphonso Davies.
Wolfsburg kept the defender last summer amid interest as they could offer him Champions League football but that won’t be the case this summer.
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Free agent snubs Villa
Atletico Madrid have won the race for Villa target Boubacar Kamara according to reports. Kamara, 22, is set to become a free agent this summer as his contract at Marseille approaches its end.
Villa are after a new holding midfielder and recently sent a scouting mission including Gerrard, CEO Christian Purslow and sporting director Johan Lange to run the rule over the ace in the flesh. But Atletico Madrid have reportedly 'closed' a deal for the defensive midfielder, according to Spanish website Todofichajes.
Newcastle want Targett to stay
Matt Targett was Villa's players' player of the year last season before his shock exit on loan in January to Newcastle after Steven Gerrard took charge in November.
Targett, 26, has impressed at the North East club to help them beat the drop under Eddie Howe. And Toon team-mates have made their feelings clear after Targett was speaking to the cameras following his 15th Premier League appearance for the club in their 2-0 win over Arsenal on Monday night.
Targett said he felt it was the club's best performance of the year but was interrupted by Bruno Guimaraes and left laughing when the £35million Brazilian declared: "he needs to stay" in an amusing clip Newcastle have put out on Twitter.
