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Aston Villa told to pay £17m for summer target that plays ‘a bit like John McGinn’
Unai Emery will be scouring the market for new additions in the summer as Aston Villa close in on European qualification in fourth place – and a potential place in next season’s Champions League.
Villa have made a mockery of the belief that playing in Europe – especially, for the first time in a long time – can affect your form domestically. Villa sit in fourth place and the Conference League quarter-finals.
Newcastle though, have shown playing in the Champions League can affect your Premier League form – albeit, Eddie Howe’s men have had to tend with an untold amount of injuries. Squad depth is crucial.
Villa will need to make a few signings in the summer, especially in attacking midfield. One player they are supposedly targeting in that role is Scotland star Lewis Ferguson – who is starring over in Italian football.
Lewis Ferguson emerges as a target for Aston Villa this summer
Joining Aberdeen from Hamilton after breaking in to the senior side with The Accies, Ferguson starred for The Dons despite his tender age. His 60 goals and assists in 169 games tempted Bologna to sign him.
He made the move, as have a number of Scottish stars, to Iatly. Aaron Hickey, Josh Doig, Liam Henderson and more have made the move from the Scottish Premiership to Serie A. But Ferguson tops the lot.
Indeed, the 24-year-old is captaining Thiago Motta’s excellent Bologna side – who like Villa, are pushing for a aplce in the top four and currently sit in fourth. Ferguson has had a hand in 11 goals in 30 matches.
That has attracted the attention of Aston Villa. Last week, it was claimed that Emery is keen on luring the Scottish midfielder to The Midlands – a player that Uncle, Barry Ferguson, said is “a bit like John McGinn”.
£17m for Ferguson is a bargain and Villa simply have to act now
Now, have delivered an update. They claim that Juventus and Lazio are also keen on Ferguson, with Bologna requesting a fee of £17m. Though, the belief is it could be reduced to £12.9m.
A bargain, for a player that is starring at the top end of Italian football. But one that boasts the physicality, the natural fitness and the tenacity required to deal with the physical rigours of the Premier League.
Ferguson might not start for Villa straight away – given Villa boast Jacob Ramsey and Youri Tielemans. But, the latter plays deeper role and Ramsey is in and out of the side. Ferguson would be a top addition.
But, given the small price tag, you can expect other Premier League clubs to catch wind sooner rather than later ahead of the summer window. If Villa are to sign Ferguson, they need to start making inroads.