Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are in similar situations.
Both sides qualified for European football last season, although neither of the Premier League duo have taken advantage of that in the transfer market as of yet.
Aston Villa have only signed Yasin Ozcan and Marco Bizot for squad depth, while Crystal Palace have also just added a backup defender and goalkeeper in Borna Sosa and Walter Benitez.
Now – however – both are set to compete over the signing of Evann Guessand.
Aston Villa ready to rival Crystal Palace for Evann Guessand
Alan Nixon now states on Patreon that Aston Villa are willing to outbid Crystal Palace for the Ivory Coast international.
Guessand – who is understood to be valued at £22m by OGC Nice – is a target for both the Villans and the Eagles after scoring 13 goals and providing ten assists in 42 appearances last season.
It comes after Chris Wheatley claimed that Crystal Palace were close to signing Guessand last week, as Oliver Glasner demands more signings at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace are also bidding for Yann Bisseck of Inter Milan – the Germany international who seems to be the chosen replacement for Marc Guehi, who remains of interest to Liverpool and Newcastle.
Evann Guessand deal could benefit Manchester United
Should the Ivorian end up at Villa Park, it could make Unai Emery more open to selling Ollie Watkins to Manchester United.
TBR Football understand Manchester United held talks about Watkins while engaged in discussions with Aston Villa over Emiliano Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho, and are considering the England international along with Benjamin Sesko.
However, RB Leipzig are ready to accept a €90m (£78m) bid from Newcastle for the Slovenia international, with Manchester United yet to match the offer.
Therefore, the Red Devils could soon turn their attention towards Watkins, if they decide not to stump up the same fee for Sesko.