Aston Villa have been keeping tabs on Algerian international Said Benrahma for a while now, but The Athletic have reported that Leeds United have now joined the race for his signature too.
Dean Smith was interested in reuniting with the Brentford forward last summer, but The Bees valued him at around £20 million – a fee Villa were unwilling to pay at the time.
Benrahma continued his great form into the 2019/20 Championship season, scoring 17 goals and providing nine assists in a Brentford team that are in touching distance of the Premier League.
Marcelo Bielsa is currently in the process of improving Leeds’ squad to ensure they are competitive in the top flight next season, with Benrahma seen as a player who fits that bill.
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Firstly, it has to be said that the likelihood of Benrahma switching clubs this upcoming transfer window will likely depend on whether Brentford beat Fulham in the play-off final.
If Brentford emerge victorious at Wembley, then the lure of Premier League football that clubs like Villa and Leeds currently possess will become less of a selling point to the Algerian.
However, Birmingham Live report that multiple Premier League clubs are interested in the 24-year-old and irrespective of the play-off final, Brentford are going to have plenty of interest for their man this summer.
He has been one of the top performers in a very good looking Brentford side this season and looks well equipped to more than hold his own in England’s top division.
If Villa were to put in a successful offer for the versatile forward, then he could prove a fantastic addition to Smith’s squad.
