Progress is expected soon as Aston Villa, Everton and Brighton race to sign a talented midfielder.
Aston Villa are stepping up their interest in Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra ahead of the summer transfer window, with a bid now considered imminent.
Unai Emery is determined to sign a versatile midfielder before the start of next season and Diarra, one of Strasbourg’s standout players throughout a brilliant campaign, is high up on the shortlist. The 21-year-old, a Strasbourg youth academy product, scored four goals and made five assists in 30 Ligue 1 appearances throughout the season just gone.
It was reported earlier this week that Villa have been keeping close tabs on Diarra’s progress and were considering making a €30 million (£25.3m) offer. Now, a few days on, French reporter Mohamed Toubache-Ter claims Villa are on the “huge offensive” to sign the midfielder, hinting at movement sometime soon.
Diarra, who turned 21 in January, is predominantly a central midfielder but can play a little bit further back as a six or a four. The Senegalese is also capable of playing as a number 10 if required, while a box-to-box number eight role couldn’t be ruled out as he possesses great energy and stamina.
Strasbourg’s captain since last August, Diarra has four senior Senegal appearances to his name after a change in international allegiance. The midfielder previously turned out for France at under-21, under-19, under-18 and under-16 level before committing himself to Senegal, the nation he was born in.
With Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans forming such a formidable partnership in the midfield double pivot at Villa Park and Amadou Onana stepping up as a terrific backup, Diarra would likely struggle for immediate game time. Unless, of course, Unai Emery were to opt to field Diarra as an attacking midfielder with Morgan Rogers out wide on the right. Tielemans could even play as the number 10 to fit in Diarra a little deeper.
If Villa do want to sign the Senegalese, they may have to hurry as Everton and Nottingham Forest hold an interest. Then there’s Brighton & Hove Albion, keen on Diarra for the past 12 months and said to be weighing up a bid of their own. Quite the saga could soon develop if all four clubs decide to formally act on their interest.
Could Aston Villa sell a big-name midfielder this summer?
It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the links to Diarra could indicate Tielemans or Kamara are in line to leave this summer. Villa are currently walking a tightrope with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and reportedly must make one significant sale, or let several fringe players for a decent cumulative fee.
Tielemans, likely to be named Villa’s player of the season following an extraordinarily consistent campaign, has been linked with a potential move to Saudi Arabia. Kamara, meanwhile, only has two years left on his current contract. Villa are in negotiations with the 25-year-old over a new deal but an agreement is yet to be reached. If talks fall through, Villa may have to cash in while they can.
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