The latest transfer news as Aston Villa and Leeds United battle to sign a standout Southampton star.
Aston Villa are reportedly among three Premier League clubs eyeing a summer swoop for Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
The Villans, unsure whether they will be signing Marco Asensio permanently this summer and generally eager to add midfield depth, have been drawing up a shortlist over recent weeks. Fernandes, relegated this term as a 20th-placed finisher but a rare shining light for Saints as the club’s player of the season, is one of those being considered.
Football Insider reports Villa, Leeds United and West Ham United are all keen on Fernandes, who Southampton will have to sell to reduce the financial blow of dropping down to the Championship. Saints are said to value the midfielder at around £25 million, a valuation not considered to put off the clubs interested.
Fernandes, still just 20 years of age, joined Southampton from Sporting Lisbon last summer for a fee of around £15 million. The Portugal under-21 international has started 33 of Saints’ 37 Premier League games - before their final day hosting of Arsenal - and has arguably impressed more consistently than Tyler Dibling, who the entirety of the division seem to be interested in signing.
Arguably Fernandes’ most important attribute is his versatility as he can play as a ball-winning midfielder, a deep-lying playmaker, a box-to-box or even a number 10. Unai Emery loves players who can adapt to different roles with relative ease and Fernandes could offer just that.
The 20-year-old is still a raw talent and needs nurturing to reach his potential, but that’s one of Emery’s strengths—helping prospects correct subtleties in their game. Leeds and West Ham could probably offer more immediate minutes but Fernandes wouldn’t receive the same world-class tailored coaching that Emery could offer.
Aston Villa must sell before they buy
It could be tricky for the Villans to move quickly to sign Fernandes as there are financial limitations Emery and Monchi, the president of football, must first navigate. Villa are once again walking a fine line with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations and are understood to need to make at least one substantial sale before they can conduct expensive incoming business.
Premier League clubs are allowed to lose £105 million over a three-year period and Villa are failing on that front. If the issue isn’t addressed before the deadline on June 30, the Villans could face a punishment as severe as a points deduction for next season. It was a similar situation last year, too, as Villa had to sell Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz for a combined £92 million just to comply with PSR.
The best solution is probably to sell fringe players, perhaps those who are currently out on loan elsewhere. Emiliano Buendia will be on the transfer list once he returns from his spell at Bayer Leverkusen, Kosta Nedeljkovic is expected to join RB Leipzig permanently and Valencia are likely to bid for Enzo Barrenechea after a brilliant first season in La Liga.
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