Aston Villa could surprise Tottenham Hotspur with a hijack bid for an attacking transfer target.
Aston Villa are on the hunt for a new left-sided attacker as Marcus Rashford will return to Manchester United at the end of his loan and won’t sign permanently.
The Villans had the option to buy Rashford for £40 million this summer but have decided against the move as the England international wants to play in the Champions League and his wage demands are too excessive. Other options are being considered as a result, with a shortlist drawn up and being added to.
Unai Emery would prefer Villa to sign a versatile forward who plays predominantly on the left but can also be utilised in other positions if required. The likes of Noni Madueke, Alejandro Garnacho, Arda Guler and Alex Baena all somewhat fit that bill and have been linked with a move to Villa Park, but no negotiations are underway for any targets for this position just yet.
Aston Villa could attempt stunning Tottenham Hotspur transfer hijack
One player Villa were interested in signing back in the winter and could turn their attention to once again is Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel. Tottenham Hotspur loaned the Frenchman for the second half of last season and have the option to sign him permanently for £45 million, but the north London club are reportedly reluctant to pay such a fee.
Although no reports have surfaced just yet to suggest Villa will reignite their interest in Tel, we at Birmingham World believe there’s an opportunity for a hijack. Spurs have the upper hand with Champions League football on the table but Villa are a far more stable club and the project could prove more alluring long term.
Tel, quick off the mark and an effective ball carrier, started 11 times for Spurs in the Premier League, scoring two goals and providing one assist. The 20-year-old, regarded as one of the most promising young forwards in Europe, also played 209 minutes of Tottenham’s Europa League-winning campaign, while he scored Spurs’ only goal in the 2-1 FA Cup defeat away at Villa Park.
Sky Germany reports Ange Postecoglou’s side want to keep Tel but don’t want to activate their £45 million purchase clause. Instead, Spurs are eager to loan Tel for another season with an obligation to buy him in the summer of 2026. Bayern aren’t too keen on that route, however, with the Bundesliga champions preferring a permanent sale this summer.
It’s stated that negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs with everything “still open”. Bayern director Max Eberl has been in intense talks with both Spurs and Tel for several weeks and all parties are attempting to find the best possible solution.
Although Tel looks likely to re-sign for Tottenham, there’s still time for Villa to make a shock swoop. Man Utd had effectively wrapped up a deal to sign Tel themselves back in February before Spurs performed a stunning hijack. Villa could now try and do the same if they wish.
It’s awkward timing with Villa in need of making a significant sale or two to conform to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), but a move for Tel could work if the Spurs talks run beyond the June 30 deadline. The France under-21 international is exactly the kind of player Villa are looking for, after all, so he could be worth the hefty investment.
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