Aston Villa have defensive-midfielders in the squad with Boubacar Kamara, Marvelous Nakamba, Morgan Sanson and Douglas Luiz at their disposal, but Kamara might be a squad player, Sanson is surplus to requirements and Luiz isn’t a natural in the role, so Steve Gerrard is keen to sign an experienced option this summer.
Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yves Bissouma are top of his wishlist, but Dean Jones has poured cold water on any suggestion of Villa landing either player. He told Give Me Sport: “We should not totally rule out the idea of another midfielder arriving, but it is unlikely to be someone at the level of Brighton’s Yves Bissouma.”
That’s a big blow given the 25-year-old’s quality, but Villa may not be willing to spend £50m to procure his signature. Bissouma has interest from a host of big clubs too, so he might set his sights higher than the Claret and Blues. The Mali international joined Brighton on a five-year deal from LOSC Lille in 2018 and has gone on to make 124 appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals with three assists.
Bissouma has an uncertain future at Brighton as his contract is up next year and there’s been no progress on extending his deal. The Seagulls won’t want to lose him for nothing in 2023, so they might have to cash in early this summer. If he gets an offer near £50m, that would see them make three times their investment from four years ago.
Villa are unlikely to be a buyer, however.
In other news, Dean Jones says Aston Villa are ‘unlikely’ to sign Kalvin Phillips
