Aston Villa are currently stepping up their search for a centre-back, who is being targeted by all of their Premier League rivals.
Villa aim for summer signings amid onslaught from European players
While Chelsea have faltered following losses to Everton and Newcastle United in the past two weeks, Villa are well placed to finish in the top five and are likely to secure Champions League qualification for next season.
However, Unai Emery’s team secured a place in the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win against Lille in Ligue 1, and could qualify for Europe’s elite competition by winning the Europa League.
Champions League qualification is important for the Villans given their well-documented PSR issues, but they remain keen to sign lesser-known players this summer to avoid paying further fines for breaching financial rules.
Another target is 18-year-old Paris Saint-Germain ace Ibrahim Mbaye, with the winger making a real breakthrough for the French club this season, making 25 appearances in all competitions.
However, Emery and his team are keen to strengthen their side at the other end of the pitch, and another young player has been named as a target.
TEAMtalk reports that Aston Villa have begun contract talks with high-profile Hearts star Alfie Osborne, who is also currently being targeted by Premier League rivals Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Fulham and Leeds United.
The news that Villa are closing in on Champions League chasers will come as a blow to Leeds, given Daniel Farke’s side currently remain in the race for the remainder of the table, four points adrift of the bottom three.
Journalist Joel Sked says the Villains are clearly favored over Leeds in the race to sign Osborne, and there are signs that he could definitely be included in Emery’s squad after impressing against Hearts in this season’s Scottish Youth Cup.
The 17-year-old, who is a top target for Emery’s side, has played in 27 games as a key player for Hearts B team in the Lowland League this season, and has shown leadership ability by serving as team captain in the last eight games.
According to the aforementioned reports, the 6ft 4 Scottish prodigy could be had for less than £250,000, which is not a huge amount for a club like Aston Villa and would definitely be worth taking a chance on the young centre-back this summer.
Unai Emery tells Robert Olave to prioritize star signing with Aston Villa, initial talks held
The Spaniard has made it clear that he should stay at Villa next season.
