Premier League clubs Aston Villa and West Ham have entered the chase to sign Montpellier starlet Stephy Mavididi.
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Stephy Mavididi could soon be set for a return to England, as Aston Villa and West Ham keep close track of his progression. The explosive winger currently plies his trade at Montpellier and has enjoyed immense success in Ligue 1, becoming one of the most sought-after talents in the French top-flight.
A native of Derby, Mavididi initially began his youth career at Arsenal. He was a part of the club’s youth setup for seven years before opting to join Juventus U23 in 2018. After a mixed start to his life in Turin, he was shipped to Dijon on a loan deal in 2019. The following year, the attacker was snapped up by Montpellier, who were quick to identify his talent after a promising spell with Dijon.
Almost 18 months after completing a move to Montpellier, the attacker has notched up more than 60 competitive appearances for the club. He has scored 17 goals during this time while bagging three assists. Eleven of his goal involvements have come in the new season, with his contributions proving to be vital in helping his club compete for the European places.
Mavididi’s rapid rise to prominence at Montpellier has put multiple clubs on red alert, including West Ham. It is no secret that the Londoners are in the market for attacking reinforcements, with David Moyes keen on adding a competitor for Michail Antonio. He is also unsure of the long-term future of Jarrod Bowen.
The former Hull City starlet appears to be keen on signing for Liverpool next season, which could prompt Moyes to sign a new winger. Mavididi fits the bill well, given his player profile and the recent success at Montpellier.
But another potential destination for the 23-year-old is Aston Villa. The Midlands outfit have shown a lot of ambition in the market after the arrival of Steven Gerrard. They have managed to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan from FC Barcelona, while Lucas Digne was signed from Everton.
The addition of someone like Mavididi could help them further enhance their ranks in the offensive unit. While the Montpellier attacker is unlikely to move on in this January transfer window, he could be an excellent replacement for Coutinho if the Brazilian fails to live up to his expectations and returns to Barca.
The same can be said for West Ham, with Mavididi being a good replacement for Bowen, though they have also been linked with a swoop for another Hull City starlet in the form of Keane Lewis-Potter.
