Trezeguet is on the verge of leaving Aston Villa after the Premier League outfit reached an agreement with Turkish Super Lig champions Trabzonspor, as reported by Fotomac.
Last season, as the team from the Black Sea reached the summit of Turkish football for the first time since the 1980s, Anthony Nwakaeme provided 13 goals and a further 10 assists from the wing.
There will be big boots to fill, then, as Nwakaeme prepares to leave on a free transfer. And that challenge looks set to befall a man who has gone from key player to forgotten man three years on from his £9 million arrival at Villa Park.
Fotomac claim that Trezeguet, or Mahmoud Hassan to use his real name, has agreed to join Trabzonspor with Abdullah Avci’s side in the final stage of negotiations. Trabzonspor are now discussing the structure of the payments with Aston Villa.
It is understood that, with Trezeguet entering the final 12 months of his contract, the Midland giants would accept a cut-price fee of around £4 million.
Trezeguet set for Aston Villa exit and Turkey return
And the winger’s excellent track record in Turkish football bodes well for a side who finished eight points clear of runners-up Fenerbahce in 2021/22. It was a terrific season at Kasimpasa that paved the way for Trezeguet’s arrival at Villa Park after all. Furthermore, the Egypt international produced six goals and three assists in just 13 games on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir.
Besiktas have also been linked in recent weeks. Trezeguet’s agent, however, wasted no time rubbishing those claims.
“The news from Turkey that Besiktas have agreed (a deal) with Trezeguet is completely false,” explains Christian Emile. “But we are in talks with some European clubs.”
Aston Villa have snapped up Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and Philippe Coutinho during what could be a busy summer of incomings and outgoings. Matt Targett has joined Newcastle United on a permanent basis. Anwar El Ghazi, Bertrand Traore, Kortney Hause and co could also depart.
Frederic Guilbert, meanwhile, is convinced that he too has played his final game in claret-and-blue.
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