Aston Villa are willing to pay £17 million for Udinese winger Gerard Deulofeu while offering the Spain international around £70,000-a-week in an attempt to lure him back to the Premier League, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
With Udinese standing firm in their desire to retain the former Barcelona, AC Milan and Sevilla forward, Aston Villa have little choice but to put their money where their mouth is with Unai Emery prioritising a winger in the final week of the window.
Deulofeu’s agent admitted earlier in January that Aston Villa had expressed an interest (Football Italia).
The mercurial 28-year-old ‘wants to stay’ at the Stadio Friuli, however; Le Zebrette dreaming of a top-half finish for the first time in a decade. Udinese director Pierpaolo Marino, meanwhile, insists that the Serie A outfit are under no pressure to cash in on any of their key players this month.
“Now, with the market open, we’ll hear all sorts of things,” says Marino. “It’s part of the game and we know that very well.
“We will certainly not lose the important players we have. In January, we never need to sell our best players.”
But money talks, as they say. And Aston Villa, bankrolled by billionaires Wes Edens and Nayef Sawiris, have more than most.
Aston Villa want former Everton and Watford winger Gerard Deulofeu back in England
The Midland giants are willing to pay Udinese £17 million for a player out of contract in 18 months’ time. Deulofeu, meanwhile, could earn almost £70,000-a-week at Villa Park. The 2018 La Liga champion currently takes home £22,000-a-week in Italy (Salary Sport).
His 29th birthday rapidly approaching; Deulofeu appears to have belatedly supplemented his searing pace and dazzling footwork with some much-needed end product. Last season was the most prosperous of his career; 13 goals and five assists for mid-table Udinese.
Whisper it, but Deulofeu appears to be finally fulfilling the potential that had former Everton boss Roberto Martinez labelling him a potentially world-beating talent during his second spell at Goodison Park.
“With Gerard Deulofeu, we all know the incredible world-class talent he has,” Martinez said (BeIn Sports).
“What is very impressive is his determination of becoming as good as he can be. With a player of his natural talent, you need that feeling and emotion in order to perform.”
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