Aston Villa are now racing to sign an "aggressive" midfielder, who is open to a move to the Premier League this summer, according to a report.
Villa looking to bolster midfield options
Villa brought Marco Asensio in on loan during the January transfer window, and the Spaniard went on to have an impressive second half of the season, picking up eight goals and one assist in 21 outings across all competitions.
With the summer transfer window now entering its final month, however, Unai Emery is yet to bring in a replacement for Asensio, having made very few additions to his squad, and there have been suggestions that the former loanee could be brought back.
Fenerbahce have also been named as potential suitors for the Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder, but the Turkish club are yet to make a breakthrough in negotiations, which could open the door for a move to Villa Park.
However, the 29-year-old is not the only option on the shortlist, with a report from A Bola (via Sport Witness) revealing Aston Villa are now interested in signing Southampton's Mateus Fernandes, but there could be stiff competition for his signature.
mateus-fernandes-southampton-premier-league
Leeds United and Atletico Madrid are also in the race for Fernandes, who is open to making a return to the Premier League this summer, having suffered relegation from the top flight with the Saints last season.
The Villans may have to shell out a relatively large amount to get a deal over the line, with Southampton setting an asking price of more than €35m (£30m) two months ago, although it is unclear whether a transfer fee in that region is realistic.
Fernandes deserves another chance in Premier League
The Saints endured one of the worst campaigns in Premier League history last season, collecting just 12 points, but their young midfielder still managed to impress at times, collecting two goals and four assists in 36 outings.
Former manager Vasco Seabra has also lauded the 20-year-old for his physical attributes in the past, describing him as a "very strong and aggressive player with a great ability to cover a lot of ground".
Fernandes was a shining light in a poor Southampton side last season, and the starlet is also impressive defensively, placing in the top 2% for tackles per 90 over the past year, and in the top 4% for interceptions, when compared to other attacking midfielders.
However, with a Europa League campaign on the horizon, it may be a savvy move for Villa to bring in an attacking midfielder with more top-level experience, meaning Asensio could be a better addition to the squad, having played for some of Europe's top clubs.