Neal Maupay could potential reunite with his former Bees boss Dean Smith at Premier League newcomers Aston Villa.
Aston Villa are stepping up their interest in Brentford striker Neal Maupay, according to 90Min, despite spending near to £100 million on transfers already this summer.
No team in the Premier League has bought as many players as newly promoted Villa but that does not mean that they are ‘doing a Fulham’.
While The Cottagers spend big on foreign imports like Jean-Michel Seri, Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa and Andre Schurrle, Dean Smith’s side have largely focused on players who have proven themselves in English football. Tyrone Mings, Anwar El Ghazi and Kortney Hause have also signed permanent deals after impressive loan spells at Villa Park while Smith worked with Jota at Brentford.
And, according to 90Min, the Aston Villa manager is keen to sign another player he knows from his excellent spell at Griffin Park.
Smith apparently feels that he needs to add some extra firepower to his squad and he’s probably right, given that £22 million Wesley Moraes is perhaps the only Premier League-quality striker at his disposal.
90Min believes that Villa are set to go all out for Maupay in the coming days therefore, though it remains to be seen whether they will meet Brentford’s £20 million price-tag.
While Wesley is a strong, mobile targetman reminiscent of Christian Benteke in his pomp, Maupay is an old-school poacher in the Diego Costa mould. The fiery Frenchman scored 28 goals last season and just imagine how prolific he’d be if he forms an understanding with Jack Grealish, John McGinn and co.
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