Aston Villa could offer Danny Ings to Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion in a swap deal that would see Yves Bissouma move in the other direction, according to The Mirror.
Talk about a deal that suits everyone down to the ground.
Aston Villa need a dominant central midfielder. Brighton need a prolific, penalty box poacher. So Ings for Bissouma feels like a swap deal made in transfer rumour heaven.
Did we mention that Ings is a South Coast boy, a former Bournemouth and Southampton forward born just 70 miles from the Amex Stadium? It’s not hard to imagine Graham Potter’s side troubling the Premier League’s top ten if they had Ings – rather than the infuriating Neal Maupay – leading the line.
Things just haven’t worked out for the England international at Villa Park.
Despite a pair of stunning goals against Newcastle and the Saints, he’s found the net just five times thus far. Even more worryingly, he’s failed to strike up the sort of understanding with Ollie Watkins that he had with Che Adams under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
The form of Cameron Archer out on loan at Preston North End means Aston Villa already have a readymade replacement in their ranks should Ings depart just 12 months after his £30 million switch.
Steven Gerrard admits that Archer will receive a chance to prove himself in pre-season (BL).
Is Danny Ings leaving Aston Villa already?
Bissouma, meanwhile, ticks plenty of boxes as far as Gerrard is concerned, with Villa scouring the market for a ball-winning enforcer to sit at the base of their midfield. The former Rangers boss is not giving up on the Malian maestro, despite failing with a £35 million bid in January.
“It was well documented that we put in a bid for Bissouma at Brighton which was turned away,” Gerrard confirms.
Brighton are demanding £45 million, despite the fact that Bissouma has just 12 months left on his contract. The inclusion of Ings, as a makeweight, could drive down his value to a more attainable level.
The Athletic adds that Bissouma is Aston Villa’s number one defensive midfield target, despite links with the likes of Cheick Doucoure, Ibrahim Sangare, Kalvin Phillips and Wilfred Ndidi.
If Saturday’s 2-1 win at Arsenal is anything to go by, Brighton may already have an ideal successor for Bissouma in the talented Moises Caicedo.
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