According to L’Equipe, Aston Villa have now made contact with the representatives of Bordeaux talent Mehdi Zerkane.
It’s claimed that Villa have been following Zerkane for around three months, seemingly identifying him as a target after the January transfer window.
Villa could now send an offer at the end of the season, and aren’t put off by his contract only expiring in 2024.
Villa even watched Zerkane on Sunday, but he only played six minutes of the 3-0 home win over Lens, coming off the bench to score.
The 21-year-old predominantly plays as a right-sided winger cutting inside onto his left foot, just like Bertrand Traore, and he has admitted to idolising Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane.
Zerkane has notched one goal and one assist in 26 league games this season having joined from Monaco back in the summer of 2019.
Villa have raided the French market for Traore and Morgan Sanson over the last year, and Bjorn Engels back in the summer of 2019.
It’s certainly plausible that Villa are keen on Zerkane in an attempt to add competition for Traore, potentially viewing him as a cheap yet promising option in the final third.
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