Aston Villa transfer latest as reports emerge suggesting that the club are looking into a potential deal for Stoke City midfielder Sol Sidibe
Sol Sidibe
Sol Sidibe(Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa are reportedly keen on making a move for Stoke City midfielder and England youth international Sol Sidibe this summer.
The Telegraph reports that a number of clubs hold an interest in Sidibe, who is the son of former Potters striker Mamady, but that Villa rate him particularly highly and consider him a player with an especially bright future.
Sidibe, who was actually born in France, was called up to represent England under 17s in 2023 and, last year he made his debut for the under 18s. He has since captained the young Lions in that age group, but domestically he has been exposed to plenty of first team football previously.
The 18 year old has made 21 appearances in all for Stoke's first team since his debut in August 2023. Last season, under Steven Schumacher and then Narcis Pelach, Sidibe continued to get a look in and made 13 appearances in league and cup, but didn't again after January when Mark Robins was appointed.
"It's a great reward because he is a very, very clever player," Pelach said of Sidibe's England captaincy in November. "I was really surprised when I first met him about his capability to think and to understand ideas and, as well, the way he expressed his ideas. It's rare for a player of his age and he's a lovely guy as well."
He signed a three-year contract last summer, meaning there are still two years left to run on that deal, but that wouldn't appear to have negated any interest, especially from Villa, who have transformed their academy since the arrival of owners NSWE in 2018 and have funded a recruitment drive at academy level ever since.
Villa have slowly, over time, looked to reduce the average age of their squad; they have Yasin Ozcan joining them this summer from Kasimpasa, having added Andres Garcia in January. They are also targeting Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan, too, but it appears that they're also willing to look closer to home for the next generation of talent.
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