- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands that the Saudi Pro League are in talks with Aston Villa to sign one key forward this summer.
Under Unai Emery last season, Aston Villa pulled off the miraculous and finished in a UEFA Champions League place.
The Midlands club have been busy this summer with the addition of Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley but the Villains could be busy this summer in terms of one key outgoing.
Sources have told HITC that the Saudi Pro League are in talks with Villa over a deal for Moussa Diaby – who has told the club he is eager to move to the Middle East.
Villa want to keep Emery but Monchi keen to discuss possible sale
The 25-year-old only arrived last summer from Bayer Leverkusen and he enjoyed an excellent first season in England, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists in all competitions.
However, it has emerged that a couple of Pro League clubs would like to land Diaby with Al-Ittihad the main contenders for his signature.
Villa, for their part, are understood to be keen on keeping hold of the French winger as he is a player that Unai Emery rates highly.
However, despite the Spaniard’s willingness to keep hold of Diaby, sources have told HITC that the club’s Head of Football operations, Monchi believes it is something they should consider given Diaby’s stance and as such, talks are ongoing.
What Villa are understood to be demanding for Diaby
The Midlands club are keen on recouping a decent fee for the Frenchman as they spent £50 million to land the winger last summer.
Villa would want a deal worth close to £60million, and this would be a record for Ittihad whose biggest outlay to date is just over £40million which they paid Liverpool for Fabinho last summer.
Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink labelled the winger as ‘dangerous‘ following his early days in English football.
As it stands the Saudi Pro League have put together a package worth around £50m, but Villa are understood to want more from the Middle Eastern side.
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