Aston Villa are seemingly moving for Angers midfielder Baptiste Santamaria.
According to French newspaper L’Equipe, Aston Villa have launched a €7million (£6.35milion) bid for Angers midfielder Baptiste Santamaria – but the offer has been rejected.
Villa have already announced a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder Douglas Luiz, pending a work permit, whilst The Sun claim Club Brugge ace Marvelous Nakamba is on his way to Villa Park.
Luiz and Nakamba would seemingly solve Villa’s lack of midfield options, especially in a holding role, but one more appears to be on the radar for Dean Smith and co.
It’s now claimed that Villa want to sign Angers ace Santamaria, and have launched a €7million (£6.35million) bid for the Frenchman, which has been rejected.
Villa must now improve their bid for the 24-year-old, who has starred in his three seasons with Angers having joined from Tours in 2016.
Some may worry that Santamaria is being lined up because Luiz won’t get a work permit, but maybe Villa just feel that he can be a bargain addition to Smith’s options.
He’s more technically-gifted than Nakamba, who is more mobile, combative and defensively-sound, but Santamaria is also known for being a relentless runner – just like Nakamba.
Ouest-France carried quotes from Angers conditioning coach Benoit Pickeu, who noted that nobody ran further in Ligue 1 last season than Santamaria, even nicknaming him ‘4×4’ due to the ground he can cover.
That’s hugely exciting for Villa, but with their first bid failing, they will need to come back with a new offer closer to £10million in order to get him.
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