Going head-to-head against Newcastle United, Aston Villa are now reportedly battling to sign an attacking reinforcement who has scored nine goals in all competitions so far this season.
Aston Villa racing to sign 9-goal star
Three points adrift of a potential Champions League place and in the last eight of both the Champions League and the FA Cup, to say that Aston Villa still have it all to play for would be an understatement. The Villans have been inconsistent at times, there's no hiding from that, but they could yet turn their campaign into historic success under Unai Emery.
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Aston Villa are in a fierce race to sign a midfielder who has been impressing this season.
Earning Champions League qualification should still be their biggest priority, however. A second-consecutive campaign among Europe's elite would further drag them away from any PSR concerns and leave them well-placed to make some serious statements on the transfer front once again.
The rumours are already coming thick and fast on that front too. Recent reports have linked impressive names such as Mike Maignan and Yves Bissouma with a summer switch to Villa Park, but it remains to be seen whether those deals come to fruition.
SPURS-BISSOUMA-LIVERPOOL
Instead, the Midlands club have reportedly turned their focus towards another Premier League star. According to Caught Offside, Aston Villa are now battling to sign Dango Ouattara ahead of rival interest from Newcastle United this summer.
The Bournemouth winger, like many of Andoni Iraola's players, has enjoyed an impressive campaign - scoring nine goals in all competitions. With that form now comes the interest of both Villa and Newcastle, who will reportedly have to pay around €40m (£33m) to sign the 23-year-old this summer.
Two sides competing for a Champions League place, it could be Villa's success on the pitch which sees them jump ahead of the Magpies in the race to sign Ouattara. Whether they do enough to earn European qualification ahead of Eddie Howe's side remains to be seen, however.
"Physical" Ouattara could replace Rashford
As impressive as Marcus Rashford has been on loan at Aston Villa, the Midlands club could yet decide to turn their attention towards a younger option rather than the England international who could be edging past the peak of his powers. And that's where Ouattara could come in to offer Emery an instant star on the left side of his frontline.
Described as a "physical winger" and compared to Arsenal's Bukayo Saka by analyst Ben Mattinson, Ouattara is still just 23 years old and on course to become a Premier League star.
At just £33m, Aston Villa could seal a summer bargain by signing the Bournemouth winger ahead of Newcastle, perhaps replacing Rashford by doing so. As an excellent campaign nears its conclusion, Ouattara may have quite the decision to make.