Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk appears to have indicated that Nicolo Zaniolo’s move to Aston Villa is imminent with the Italy international keen ‘to play in the Premier League’.
On Tuesday afternoon, Italian reporter Alfredo Pedulla wrote on Twitter that Aston Villa’s pursuit of Nicolo Zaniolo was pretty much a ‘done’ deal.
Unai Emery’s side are set to sign the former Roma ace on loan. Should he impress, and trigger a number of bonuses, Aston Villa could eventually end up paying a total of £26.5 million for a man who scored the only goal of the game in Roma’s UEFA Conference League final victory over Feyenoord back in 2022.
And, speaking after Zaniolo missed Galatasaray’s Champions League qualifier victory over Olimpija in midweek, coach Okan Buruk all-but confirmed the 24-year-old’s imminent departure.
Aston Villla on verge of Nicolo Zaniolo transfer
“The process regarding Zaniolo is ongoing,” Buruk tells NTV Spor. “He is a player who wants to play in the Premier League. We respect that.
“It looks like there will be a transfer.”
Zaniolo, once likened to Paul Gascoigne by his agent due to his wonderful ball-carrying ability and elegant passing range, will arrive at Villa Park to fill a void created by the injury-enforced absence of Emi Buendia.
Buendia, like Tyrone Mings, will be out of action until well into the New Year.
The Telegraph believe that Zaniolo could arrive in time for Everton’s trip to Villa Park on Saturday, with Emery also looking to bring in Marcos Acuna from Sevilla. Villa reportedly failed with a lowball £4.3 million bid for Argentinian World Cup winner in midweek.
“Zaniolo to AstonVilla; it’s done!,” Pedulla writes on Twitter. “Exchange of documents in progress, green light (from) Galatasaray.
“Figures confirmed; four million euro loan (fee), 20 million euro option to buy, seven million euros in quite simple bonuses. Departure tomorrow morning. (Zaniolo will) visit the training tomorrow afternoon.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
