---
title: "Villa must pay Championship transfer record for Maupay"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2019/01/08/villa-must-pay-championship-transfer-record-for-maupay/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Oliver Birch"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2019-01-08T16:37:29Z"
modified: "2019-01-08T16:38:05Z"
---

# Villa must pay Championship transfer record for Maupay

Aston Villa will have to break the Championship transfer record in order to sign Brentford striker Neal Maupay, the [Evening Standard reports.](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-must-break-championship-transfer-record-to-prise-neal-maupay-from-brentford-a4033346.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1546962409)

Villa boss Dean Smith is looking to replace on-loan Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, who has been linked with a move to Wolves and is said to be keen on reuniting with Maupay at Villa Park.

Brentford, however, are reluctant to sell their star man and have a history of ensuring the valuation of their players is met before agreeing to a deal.

According to reports, the Bees will demand a fee that would top the record £15.8 million fee Wolves paid for midfielder Ruben Neves in 2017.

The Frenchman, who has scored 15 goals so far this season in the Championship, is also a target for Premier League strugglers Huddersfield.

![Dan Istitene/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readastonvilla.com/readastonvilla/2019/01/1073287104.jpg)

Villa will be keen to avoid a bidding war with the Terriers for the striker, who signed for Brentford for a fee in the region of just £1.5million in 2017.

The 22-year-old is said to be valued much higher than former Bees striker Scott Hogan, who also moved to Villa Park two years ago for £12million, and looks set to become the most expensive Championship player ever should the deal go through.