Villa look to pounce as contact is made with cut-price £13.8m target
Aston Villa are reported to have established contact and have submitted an opening £13.8m bid for long-term target Milot Rashica following Werder Bremen’s relegation from the Bundesliga.
Rashica, 24, was a player that Villa actively followed last summer. They made an enquiry in September while other clubs were also said to be keen. However, with Liverpool and RB Leipzig also being linked, the player opted to stay put.
At the time, it was claimed the Kosovo international did not fancy what was harshly perceived as a relegation scrap at Villa. Ironically, that’s what Rashica ended up with as Werder ultimately could not preserve their Bundesliga status.
Now, according to reports in Italy, there is likely to be a fire sale of stars from Bremen. And their prized asset Rashica is already proving a man in demand.
Indeed, Calciomercato claims Villa are already knocking on the door with regards a transfer. The Italian publication reports that Villa are ready to launch an opening €16m (£13.8m) bid for his services.
It’s claimed that Villa are hopeful the deal could be agreeable to Bremen too. While Rashica will likely be a man in demand, it is Villa who have made the first move. And should they be the only side to come forward with a concrete offer, they hope theirs will be the one bid accepted.
A deal of €16m would mark some fall on the price Werder were seeking last season on the player. Indeed, Dean Smith’s side reportedly had a €25m (£21.5m) bid accepted last year by the club.
However, it remains to be seen if Rashica will accept the move at the second time of asking.
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Watkins tipped to replace Harry Kane
Tony Cascarino believes that Tottenham could try to sign Villa striker Ollie Watkins if they lose Harry Kane this summer.
Kane’s future has been the subject of debate for some time, but the speculation has increased in the past week. Last Monday, reports claimed that the striker has told Spurs that he wants to leave.
Should Kane go, he would prove tough to replace. Nevertheless, Cascarino feels that Villa star Watkins would be a good candidate to step in next season, after his strong campaign.
“I saw him at Exeter a couple of times, and you could see there was a player there,” the pundit told talkSPORT.
“But you could never imagine he’d go from where he was to the England squad in 2021.
“He’s done brilliantly well. He’ll be a target for a few clubs. I think if Tottenham lost Harry [Kane] they could go after him, or at least try.”
Villa made headlines when bringing Watkins in for a club-record fee from Championship club Brentford in September.
However, the striker has proved his doubters wrong, scoring 14 Premier League goals and 16 overall for the season. As a result, he earned a first England call-up in March and could seal a spot at Euro 2020.
READ MORE: Villa among two suitors for departing Chelsea star
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