Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly want Brentford’s Yoann Barbet, a big blow to Dean Smith’s Aston Villa.
Losing a long-time transfer target to a bitter, local rival is possibly the worst way you could begin the summer transfer window. But that is the reality facing Aston Villa with just a few weeks remaining in the 2018/19 season.
The Express and Star first reported back in December that Dean Smith was hoping to reunite with his former Brentford defender Yoann Barnet at Aston Villa with the versatile defender set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Considering he can play at both left-back and centre-half, the 25-year-old Frenchman would be a fine, bargain addition for a side light on defensive depth. Calciomercato reported in March that Barbet was still a Villa target heading into the summer.
But Smith is now facing competition from the gold-clad club just a few miles down the road.
According to L’Equipe, Wolverhampton Wanderers have surprisingly entered the race to sign Barbet when his contract expires.
The former Niort star looks a perfect fit for Nuno Espirito Santo’s three man defence and he will surely be tempted by a move to Molinuex, given that Wolves could be in a position to offer European and Premier League football.
Aston Villa will be praying that the Dean Smith factor proves crucial then, otherwise a player they’ve wanted for months could be heading to another Midland giant instead.
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