AS Roma have registered an interest in Aston Villa attacker Anwar El Ghazi, who is available for just £18 million.
According to an exclusive report from Football Insider, Aston Villa have slapped an £18 million price tag on Anwar El Ghazi. The forward has become a subject of interest for AS Roma recently, with Jose Mourinho once again raiding the Premier League for attacking reinforcements.
Aston Villa are open to offloading El Ghazi, who had joined the club back in 2018. The winger has made over 100 competitive appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals while registering 15 assists. But recently, the former Ajax starlet has fallen out of favour under Dean Smith, even after the big-money departure of Jack Grealish in the summer.
Indeed, El Ghazi has made only three appearances in the Premier League this season, failing to feature in any of the last five matches. It appears the addition of former Bayer Leverkusen starlet Leon Bailey as well as Emi Buendia has left him low in the pecking order.
The Dutchman’s status at Villa could yet get worse, with the club reportedly keen on further strengthening their attacking options in the upcoming January transfer window. They have already been linked with a swoop for Shakhtar Donetsk starlet Manor Solomon while Weston McKennie has also emerged as an option recently.
A move away from Villa Park could thus make a world of sense for El Ghazi, with AS Roma prepared to offer him a career lifeline. It appears Mourinho considers him as an ideal alternative for the likes of Stephen El Shaarawy, Carles Perez and Nicolo Zaniolo, who does face an uncertain future in Roma amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
The Villa forward can play in a central role as well, making him a potential cover for star man Tammy Abraham. He also brings a significant experience at the highest level of football, though Aston Villa’s £18 million price tag could prove to be a problem.
The Italian giants, much like any other club in Europe, are recovering from the financial loss suffered due to the pandemic. As such, their hands are currently tied, as far as the market is concerned. So it will be a surprise to see the Giallorossi coughing up such a sizable amount for an attacker, who is unlikely to be a first-team regular in the side.
