Marseille are seemingly in the driving seat to sign the Colombian international.
Aston Villa’s Carlos Sanchez looks dejected
Reports in France are suggesting that Aston Villa and Marseille are getting close to agreeing a deal for Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez.
Foot 01 cite La Provence as claiming the two clubs have come to an agreement over a €2 million (£1.7 million) fee for the player, not the initial €3.5 million (£2.9 million) that had been suggested.
Aston Villa’s Carlos Sanchez wearing a protective mask
The move is therefore looking like edging toward completion, with Colombian international Sanchez not likely to want to play in English football’s second tier.
Marseille have moved for Sanchez, who has experience in French football with Valenciennes, after they failed to agree a deal with Villa for another central midfielder in the form of Idrissa Gana Gueye.
West Brom’s Claudio Yacob in action with Aston Villa’s Idrissa Gueye
Sanchez joined Villa in the summer of 2014 after an impressive season in La Liga for Elche.
However, he was not a regular in the first-team last season and the recent acquisition of Aaron Tshibola from Reading undoubtedly put his first-team place in the Aston Villa squad under more scrutiny.
The move, if it goes through as expected, will however considerably reduce the wage bill at Villa Park for Roberto Di Matteo to make some more moves in the transfer market this summer.
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