Aston Villa have ended their interest in Yves Bissouma, with Steven Gerrard likely to focus on other areas.
According to Fabrizio Romano on Caughtoffside, Aston Villa will not pursue Yves Bissouma anymore, with Steven Gerrard likely to focus on other areas of his squad. The Brighton midfielder’s price tag and the arrival of Boubacar Kamara may have influenced this decision, as the Malian struggles to find a new club.
Yves Bissouma was one of the talked about midfielders 12 months ago, as clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal were heavily linked with the midfielder. A move never transpired though, and having spent the 2021/22 season with Brighton, the Malian could be on the move after entering the final year of his deal.
Brighton are not backing away from their original valuation, which could be around £40 million, despite the player having 12 months left on his contract.
Aston Villa had been keen on signing Bissouma, but have reportedly ended their interest in the midfielder. The former Rangers boss had attempted to sign the Malian in January, only to see Brighton hold on to the player until the end of the season.
However, Aston Villa have since signed Boubacar Kamara, who plays in a similar position to Bissouma. And, the Frenchman’s arrival on a free transfer and the potential idea to keep hold of players such as Marvelous Nakamba gives Gerrard multiple options in midfield.
Hence the club are no longer interested in pursuing Bissouma, who may be about to face a difficult summer, despite persistent rumours linking him to various clubs. Stories emerged in Italy over Bissouma being closer to joining Arsenal, but those were mere whispers as the Gunners have other priorities.
Mikel Arteta is keen on signing Youri Tielemans on priority and may come to Bissouma if a move for the Leicester star fails. The Gunners have long been linked with the Malian, although throughout the last 12 months, their priorities have changed.
Meanwhile, Manchester United also showed interest earlier, although since Erik ten Hag took charge of the club, their targets have shifted. The Red Devils reportedly want Frenkie de Jong as their priority midfield target, with the manager more inclined for the club to bring the Barcelona star to Old Trafford.
As for Bissouma, it will help his cause if Brighton lower their asking price, which they might, considering the particulars of the player’s contract. However, while he continues to wish for a move into a top club, he might have to compromise on that ambition if things don’t go to plan.
