Aston Villa are already being connected to players ahead of the summer transfer window
Parma's Mandela Keita has been linked with Aston Villa
Parma's Mandela Keita has been linked with Aston Villa
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Aston Villa are reportedly keeping tabs on Parma midfielder Mandela Keita heading into the summer transfer window.
Villa have been held back by Profit and Sustainability regulations in recent transfer windows, forcing manager Unai Emery to wheel and deal in the market, but Champions League qualification would be hugely beneficial and that remains a possibility.
Emery has had to fix his midfield of late due to a number of key injuries so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the club are assessing options ahead of the summer.
Keita has impressed in Serie A this season for a Parma side sitting comfortably in mid-table, making 28 starts and playing more than 2,000 minutes to date.
The 23-year-old is an all-action defensive midfielder that combines ball-winning skills with composure in possession and his performances this season haven't gone unnoticed in England.
In addition to Villa, Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) has linked Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton with Keita in recent days.
Keita, who has been capped once by Belgium at senior level, was signed by Parma for a reported €11.9million two years ago and they will expect to make a handsome profit on that sum.
The report suggests Tottenham recently sent scouts to watch Keita and perhaps lead the race, but there is currently no guarantee that they will be playing Premier League football next season.
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