Report explains why Aston Villa failed to sign Wolves striker Leo Bonatini

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Leo Bonatini moved to the Midlands with Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer, but he could have joined Championship rivals Aston Villa instead.

The bragging rights went Aston Villa’s way on Saturday, as they breathed life into a seemingly deceased title race by hammering local rivals and league leaders Wolves 4-1.

And, to make the result even more satisfying for the men in claret and blue, they managed to keep a player they failed to sign last summer off the scoresheet.

According to the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa were offered the chance to sign Leo Bonatini from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal during the 2017 transfer window. But, due to concerns about Financial Fair Play, Villa were said forced to drop a deal for the Brazilian striker.

Instead, Bonatini headed to Midland rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan with an option to buy for £5 million, the Birmingham Mail adds.

Now, Bonatini made a brilliant start to life in England as Wolves cruised to the top of the table. He hit 12 goals in his first 20 Championship games at a time when Villa were struggling for a cutting edge in the injury-enforced absence of last season’s top scorer Jonathan Kodjia.

Ironically, however, Aston Villa are finding goals far easier to come by now, with the strikes spread throughout a talented squad.

Bonatini, meanwhile, has dropped off the pace alarmingly in recent months. His barren run continued with an ineffective display against Villa, meaning he has now gone 16 games without a goal since hitting the net in a 1-0 win at Birmingham in early December.