- Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Strasbourg winger Martial Godo
- Two other Premier League clubs are also monitoring him
- Godo is enjoying a breakout season in Ligue 1
The need to bring in young players is growing at Aston Villa, and they have now set their sights on Strasbourg winger Martial Godo. His versatility is said to have impressed the Midlands club, with the idea that the 23-year-old will add quality to their squad depth.
SportsBoom’s Ekrem Konur has reported that the player’s representatives held “pulse-checking” meetings with some Premier League officials in London last month.
Godo, who recently received his first cap for the Ivory Coast, is regarded as one of Europe’s most remarkable young talents, and his performances this season have rapidly driven his market value upward.
Having only moved to France at the beginning of the current campaign, in a €7 million (£6.1 million) deal from Fulham, the No 20 has become a breakout star for the French side. In Ligue 1, he’s scored eight goals and provided one assist in 24 appearances, starting just 15 of them.
Meanwhile, in the Europa Conference League, he has taken the headlines, netting four times and registering three assists in 9 games. He is the club’s leading goalscorer and assist maker in the competition.
West Ham and Leeds United are the other two clubs engrossed by his displays this season. The Hammers are looking to add speed and variety to their attacking line, whilst Leeds see Godo as fully compatible with their system.
BlueCo player
Strasbourg are owned under the BlueCo umbrella, who also owns Chelsea. The ownership structure was designed to develop young talent across teams, allowing both clubs to swap players rather easily, with the Blues benefiting more.
Examples of cross-transactions, where players signed by Chelsea have moved to Strasbourg first to gain experience, include: Andrey Santos, Djordje Petrovic, Mamadou Sarr and Mike Penders. There are twelve names in total.
It is understood that the Strasbourg management are extremely satisfied with Godo’s development, and wants to keep him in the squad. However, a potential sale fits the model of the mission set out by the ownership group, which is, “polishing players and putting them on the big stage.”
€45-50 million (£39-43.3 million) is the bracket the French outfit will listen to offers for.
Attraction of Aston Villa
Out of all the clubs interested, Villa are in the strongest position. The prospect of Champions League football and the opportunity to work under a world-class manager will surely attract Godo should they decide to make the move.
On the other hand, given that Konur reports that the Villans see him as a squad depth option, the other two clubs may offer regular minutes, which he could prioritise.
Furthermore, given the circumstances of the Villans’ financial position, that price point seems far too high for them to spend on a squad player, unless Morgan Rogers, who himself is attracting lots of interest, would depart in the summer, for a fee over £100 million.
Godo is a player who would suit Unai Emery’s tactical style. His speed, explosive power, and technical skill at left wing would provide Villa with an alternative to what they currently have. Under the guidance of the Spaniard, there is no doubt he could reach the potential of one of Europe’s most exciting talents.
Overall, his impressive development at Strasbourg over the last seven months has positioned him as a target for Villa, though a potential deal hinges on balancing a high valuation against their need for quality squad depth.
While they may offer Champions League and the chance to learn under Emery, competing interest from Leeds and West Ham, alongside significant transfer fees, make the pursuit complex.
