Aston Villa are reportedly preparing a raid on fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion for 25-year-old midfielder Yves Bissouma.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Steven Gerrard-managed Aston Villa are preparing for a summer overhaul and have identified Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma as a possible summer signing. The 25-year-old will have just a year remaining on his current contract with the Seagulls and could thus be available for a cut-price fee.
Bissouma began his European journey with LOSC Lille, having joined them from Mali side AS Real Bamako. After two years in Ligue 1, the midfielder moved to England with Brighton & Hove Albion and has since grown into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old has made 124 appearances for the Seagulls, scoring six time and assisting three goals in the process. A knee injury and a call-up to the Africa Cup of Nations restricted Bissouma to just 26 Premier League appearances this season, but that has not done his reputation any harm, with several Premier League bigwigs tracking him.
Aston Villa are willing to add reinforcements in the midfield department this summer and believe Bissouma could be a solid signing after four seasons of English top-flight football under his belt. But Aston Villa may have to battle Chelsea for the signing of the Brighton star.
The Blues could lose both Jorginho and N’Golo Kante this summer. And while Conor Gallagher, who is set to be instated into the first team by Thomas Tuchel, could take one of the starting spots, Chelsea will still need to sign one more midfielder.
Aston Villa could thus have to make an early approach to pip Chelsea, who are set to start a new era under new owners, to the signature of the 25-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder.
The Steven Gerrard-managed side have begun their transfer business already, with three signings already secured. They signed Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal from Barcelona before adding defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara from Marseille to the squad. Aston Villa have also completed the signing of centre-back Diego Carlos from Sevilla, and Bissouma could follow next.
