Aston Villa have opened talks over a move for Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida with Diego Carlos a target for Premier League rivals Fulham in the final few weeks of the transfer window.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
An ambitious Aston Villa side have completed a flurry of eye-catching deals already this summer with Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana arriving, Ross Barkley and Jaden Philogene returning, and Samuel Iling-Junior, Enzo Barrenechea joining from Juventus to offset the loss of Douglas Luiz.
But there is little sign that Unai Emery’s big-spending side are done just yet.
HITC understands that Aston Villa remain hopeful of luring the £50 million-rated Atletico Madrid misfit Joao Felix back to England.
And with Diego Carlos potentially on his way out the door, HITC have now been told that talks have begun about a deal that would see Lutsharel Geertruida arrive to provide extra depth and versatility to their Champions League-bound backline.
Aston Villa move for Feyenoord ace Lutsharel Geertuida
A £26 million signing from Sevilla back in 2022, Diego Carlos was a real coup of a signing for Aston Villa at the time. But injury issues have restricted the Brazil international’s involvement, slipping behind Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa in Emery’s pecking order.
Despite already signing Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal, Fulham are interested. Discussions with The Cottagers are continuing despite Marco Silva’s team failing with their opening offer.
Aston Villa have also told Carlos that he is free to leave. And in his place could come Geertruida.
Emery likes versatile operators capable of playing in multiple positions. After utilising Konsa as both a right-back and a centre-half during 2023/24, Geertruida could join to play a similar role.
The 11-time Netherlands international made most of his appearances last term as a right-back for Feyenoord. New Liverpool boss Arne Slot – with whom Geertruida won the Eredivisie title in 2023 – also used him in the centre and even on the left at times too.
The Rotterdam-born 24-year-old also captained his hometown club throughout much of the campaign, in the absence of usual skipper Gernot Trauner.
Diego Carlos could leave for Fulham
HITC have been told that Feyenoord are aware of Aston Villa’s interest. The Midland giants have spoken to Geertruida’s representatives, though they are also admirers of Liverpool utility man Joe Gomez.
Geertuida, interestingly, was considered to reunite with Slot earlier in the window. Liverpool held talks with both he and fellow Dutchman Crysencio Summerville, prior to the Leeds winger’s £25 million switch to West Ham United.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, appear to have now emerged as the biggest threat to Feyenoord’s hopes of retaining their stand-in skipper.
A powerful, physical presence at 6ft 1ins but a technically gifted, impressive ball-carrier too, Geertruida would fit neatly into Emery’s plans having thrived in a possession-based Arne Slot-run side.
The Algemeen Dagblad reported that Feyenoord wanted £25 million back in 2023 when he came close to joining RB Leipzig. Now, with just one year left on Geertruida’s contract, he should be available for much less.
Interestingly, Liverpool’s own Sepp van den Berg has emerged as a rumoured replacement.
The former PEC Zwolle starlet is open to leaving Anfield this summer, though his asking price of ‘over £20 million’ is proving prohibitive.
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