Aston Villa are currently in talks over the structure of a potential deal for one ex-Fulham star after being offered the chance to sign him, according to a new report.
Aston Villa eye new midfielder after Boubacar Kamara injury
Villa are scrambling for midfield cover after losing Boubacar Kamara for the rest of the season, and they’ve set their sights on a few interesting targets.
Kamara lasted just nine minutes in their FA Cup win over Spurs before hobbling off with a devastating knee problem that’ll keep him out for Villa’s final 16 Premier League matches.
It’s a nightmare blow for the French midfielder, who already missed eight months in 2024 with a ruptured ACL.
Now, boss Unai Emery needs a replacement fast. Reports suggest Villa are eyeing former Chelsea man Ruben Loftus-Cheek as one option, following his struggle for game time under new AC Milan boss Max Allegri this season.
The 29-year-old’s managed just 1,190 minutes in 23 appearances for the Italian giants, making him gettable, but Romano has reported that Milan are attempting to tie Loftus-Cheek down with a new deal to stop him leaving on the cheap.
Milan have slapped a £13m price tag on him, according to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport (via Milan Reports). That’s way cheaper than what Villa would’ve paid for Conor Gallagher before Spurs nicked him for £34m earlier this month.
Romano also reported this evening that Villa are weighing up a potential reunion with Douglas Luiz, who’d re-join the Midlands side on loan from Juventus after terminating his current Nottingham Forest spell.
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He could be a coup.
That being said, they face stiff competition from Chelsea for the Brazilian, with both sides considering a temporary deal.
Villa are also said to have made an approach for Club Brugge star Raphael Onyedika (Sacha Tavolieri), but Turkish Süper Lig champions Galatasaray are believed to be the frontrunners there.
Going back to Lofus-Cheek, The Mail and journalist Simon Jones have shared a key update.
Aston Villa hopeful of Loftus-Cheek deal with talks ongoing
According to their information, the ex-Fulham and Crystal Palace star remains a key target for Emery, and talks are ongoing over the structure of a potential deal.
Villa are accelerating efforts to bring Loftus-Cheek back to the Premier League from Milan as they scramble for midfield reinforcement, with the club apparently ‘pressing ahead’ with a move.
The Mail, contrary to Romano’s report on new deal talks, also says Villa have been offered the chance to sign the Englishman.
Loftus-Cheek represents an experienced option who knows English football inside out following his lengthy Chelsea career, plus his loan spells at Palace and Fulham.
Milan are allegedly willing to sell after the England international struggled for consistent minutes under Allegri, having started just eight of his 19 Serie A matches.
This suggests his Rossoneri future looks uncertain, potentially making negotiations smoother for Villa.
Villa aren’t putting all their eggs in one basket, though.
The Mail reiterate that Luiz has been offered back to his old club alongside Club Brugge’s Onyedika.
The Luiz option would represent a remarkable U-turn after Villa sold him to Juventus for £42m in 2024, but his familiarity with Emery’s system could prove tempting.
Villa face crucial decisions with the transfer deadline fast approaching.
Getting Kamara’s replacement wrong could derail their entire season, so this is pivotal call.
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