EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Carlos Soler has been offered to Premier League giants Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City but Aston Villa feel they have a shot at the £17 million Paris Saint-Germain midfielder after opening talks.
HITC understands that, despite winning another Ligue 1 title and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, PSG are ready to cash in on a number of players during Luis Enrique’s second summer in the Parc des Princes dugout.
Carlos Soler is one of those being offered around to potential suitors.
We have been informed that Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have been made aware of the silky Spain international‘s availability. It remains to be seen whether any of the aforementioned trio will bite.
One club who are interested, however, is Aston Villa.
Aston Villa in talks with PSG ace Carlos Soler
The ambitious Midlanders, negotiating from a position of renewed strength after securing Champions League qualification for the very first time in midweek, have already held discussions with Soler’s camp.
Both Unai Emery and President of Football Operations Monchi – who know Soler from their time in La Liga – believe there is a deal to be struck too, Aston Villa at the front of the queue as things stand.
There is interest from Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig. But it is Villa’s discussions which have progressed the most. Emery and co are big admirers of Soler’s versatility. The former Valencia captain – once labelled the ‘new David Silva’ – is an attacking midfielder by trade but is also capable of paying in deeper or wider roles.
Arguably yet to hit his peak at 27, Soler has started only 11 Ligue 1 games this season. The £17 million benchwarmer managed a grand total of just eight minutes, meanwhile, during PSG’s Champions League campaign.
He was, however, one of the finest goalscoring midfielders in Spain during his time at Valencia, reaching double figures in both 2020/21 and 2021/22. Soler assisted Rodrigo Moreno’s winner in the Copa del Rey final triumph over Barcelona five years ago – ending Valencia’s decade-long trophy drought – and also once hit a hat-trick of penalties against Real Madrid.
Unai Emery and Monchi know the Spain star well
“He is the complete midfielder and can act as a (number) six, eight or 10,” one-time Los Che favourite Cuco Torres told AS.
“He has power, arrives in the box and can score.”
“We know his quality,” former PSG coach Christophe Galtier said in 2022. “He has technical quality and the ability to get into the opposition penalty area.
“He’s from the Spanish school, keeps things tight. He didn’t start many games but he’s a scorer.”
Should Aston Villa win the race for Soler – capped 14 times by Spain – the Castellon-born schemer may be tasked with replacing Nicolo Zaniolo in Emery’s squad. Villa have the option to sign the Galatasaray loanee permanently but may turn their nose up at such a chance, Zaniolo struggling to nail down a starting berth in England.
Aston Villa, who have freed up some room in their wage bill by selling Morgan Sanson to OGC Nice, are also keen on another talented attacker who exploded onto the scene in La Liga.
HITC understands, however, that Premier League clubs have been left stunned by Nico Williams’ contract demands. The Athletic Bilbao speedster wants a deal worth around £250,000 if he is to leave his beloved Basque giants.
Villa are also keen on, amongst others, Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga champion Jeremie Frimpong.
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