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It seems that other than the signing of Jota, Aston Villa want to ensure they keep as much of last season’s squad before delving into the market properly.
Words by Regan Foy | @FindFoy
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It looks like Aston Villa are doing something else right upon their return to the Premier League this season, and that’s ensuring they have as much of last season’s squad available to them as possible.
The side triggered the option-to-buy on defender Kortney Hause last night, which is believed to be around £3,000,000. Hause had an understated impact in the squad alongside defensive titan Tyrone Mings before Axel Tuanzebe’s return from injury, and provides a great depth option if he isn’t to be a starter.
News today from L’Equipe states that Aston Villa will complete the signing of Anwar El Ghazi, the Play-Off Final hero, in the next 24 hours after triggering their option-to-buy on the Dutch winger. The price is understood to be just under £7,900,000.
It is believed that El Ghazi may be announced before Hause, but the duo are likely to be the second and third signings of Aston Villa’s summer after both players impressed on loans to the Sky Bet Championship last season.
Granted, Aston Villa signed Jota from rivals Birmingham City yesterday evening as part of a deal that saw Gardner go the other way – but this could likely be more of City’s doing than Villa’s.
But it’s smart dealings to ensure that the majority of the squad that saw the club promoted are tied down before embarking on any other transfers.
Signing Hause and El Ghazi would two of the loanees of last season arrive, leaving Tyrone Mings to be purchased to complete the three most likely moves. Axel Tuanzebe is highly unlikely to join, as is Tammy Abraham.
Aston Villa do not have a buy option to trigger for Tyrone Mings, which was a decision from Bournemouth and not Villa, but to have an option to match any other bids that are accepted by Bournemouth. With the player keen on a move, it’s likely that Mings could be the fourth signing of the summer behind El Ghazi and Hause, when the defender returns from his holiday.
This then gives Aston Villa the freedom to pursue other players, especially those to replace the Abraham and Tuanzebe shaped holes in their squad.
