Aston Villa are currently keen to sign Sporting CP defender Maxi Araujo, with the Portuguese side willing to allow him to move this summer.
Interest is gathering in Araujo after his good performance in the Champions League
Sporting CP lost 1-0 on aggregate to Arsenal in the round of 16 stage, knocking them out of the Champions League, but this is no disgrace as Mikel Arteta’s side sit top of the Premier League.
Despite the team’s loss to the Gunners, Araujo has been very impressive on an individual level and ranks among the top tacklers in this season’s Champions League.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Uruguayan is now beginning to attract interest from other countries, with Arsenal recently negotiating a summer deal for the left-back, who has a £70m release clause in his contract with the Portuguese La Liga side.
However, Sport Witness reports that Aston Villa have jumped into the race to sign Araujo, with Sporting prepared to cash in around 50 million euros (about £43 million) this summer.
However, there could be stiff competition from some of Villa’s Premier League rivals, with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Manchester United also said to be interested.
The Sporting star, hailed as “explosive” by some analysts, could play as both left-back and winger, making him a versatile option for Unai Emery.
Former scout Mick Brown says Emery wants to upgrade current left-back Lucas Digne this summer.The left-back position is a position that coach Emery wants to strengthen, so we expect him to do so in the summer.
“Digne is not a bad player, but he’s not a real top player either. If Villa want to be a top team, he’s a player they need to improve on.”
Maxi Araujo’s main statistics this season
As well as impressing in the Champions League, the 26-year-old has also been an important player in La Liga, where his attacking qualities have been at their best.
Play time 1,855 minutes
4 goals
3 assists
661 passes completed
102 defensive contributions
99 recoveries
6 clean sheets
Key stats for Lucas Digne this season
Digne was at times dropped to make way for Ian Maassen, but the Frenchman has made 29 appearances in the Premier League this season and, like Araujo, has a keen eye for creating chances.
Play time 1,746 minutes
0 goals
5 assists
563 passes completed
108 defensive contributions
60 recovery
5 clean sheets
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