Aston Villa backed to sign Tottenham target as a replacement for Morgan Rogers.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr has been linked with an exit in recent weeks. Aston Villa have emerged as one of the suitors for Sarr. Latest reports suggest the Villans’ interest in the Senegalese international is ‘growing’.
Unai Emery has lost some key players this summer ahead of Aston Villa’s return to the Champions League. Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers have all been sold, while Amadou Onana is out for the foreseeable future with an ACL injury sustained at the World Cup. The Spanish tactician has identified Sarr as a concrete option to bolster his midfield options. Now, he also wants a Tottenham target to fill the void created by Rogers in attack.
Aston Villa eye move for Como playmaker
Rogers arrived at Aston Villa from Middlesbrough in the 2024 January transfer window, and after a period of adjustment, he quickly became a mainstay in Emery’s side. The English playmaker’s brilliance in the final third was evidenced by 31 goals and 29 assists in 125 appearances across two-and-a-half seasons at Villa Park.
The 24-year-old was sold to Chelsea for an eye-watering £117 million fee in July. Given how crucial Rogers was to Emery’s side, Villa are keen to replace him before the transfer window slams shut. European expert Andy Brassell has named Como playmaker Martin Baturina as Rogers’ ideal replacement, a player who is also on the radar of Tottenham.
“I think he makes a lot of sense for Aston Villa in a post-Morgan Rogers world,” Andy Brassell exclusively told talkSPORT.
“And he’s a different player to Rogers, of course. And you would expect Baturina ultimately to score more goals than him. So, I feel that would work quite well.
“In terms of the blend that Manchester United are trying to put together. Yes, I think he’d be a plus for them. But again, for me, Villa seems a really really good fit.”
As Tottenham has been named as a potential suitor for Martin Baturina, Brassell has a split opinion on whether he’d fit in well in N17 as there are several players in the Como talent’s mould.
“And what they (Spurs) could do with is a big, brutish centre forward, essentially,” Brassell added.
“Look, I know De Zerbi wants to play fluid football. So maybe it does stack up. Maybe it could work.
“But it wouldn’t be my first-choice destination for him.”
Should Spurs make a late move for Baturina?
Baturina recorded eight goals and four assists for Como last season and further enhanced his reputation by scoring for Croatia against England at the World Cup. The attacking midfielder has done well in Serie A but could be attracted to the prospect of playing in the Premier League.
While the Croatian international would be a smart addition for Spurs, De Zerbi already has several options at his disposal who can play in the No.10 position. So, the Lilywhites could avoid making a move for Baturina and solely concentrate on improving other attacking areas of the pitch.