Nottingham Forest are reportedly standing firm on Joe Lolley’s future.
According to the Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest are pricing Joe Lolley out a dream move to Aston Villa by demanding £15million for his signature.
Lolley, 26, starred for Forest last season, hitting 12 goals and 11 assists in a superb campaign, and it’s no great shock that he’s attracting major interest.
Villa have targeted Lolley following their promotion to the Premier League, believing he can bring real quality to Dean Smith’s flanks, whilst he would love a move to Villa Park having grown up supporting Villa.
However, it’s believed that Forest want £15million for Lolley, and that’s pricing him out of a move, with Villa so far reluctant to meet that valuation.
Villa seem to be keen on one big-money winger, with Lolley and Brentford wide man Said Benrahma on the wish list – and despite Lolley being a Villa fanatic, Benrahma may actually be the one to sign.
Benrahma will cost £20million according to The Sun, and hit 11 goals and 14 assists in his first English season last term, earning rave reviews for his displays at Griffin Park.
The Algerian is a skilful, creative wide man, and whilst he’ll cost a little more than Lolley, he’s younger and knows Smith well having worked together at Brentford, meaning Villa would be wise to pay the extra cash to land Benrahma over Lolley if they’re able to.
Smith has plenty to think about though, as he’ll be torn between a younger star he knows inside out, and a boyhood Villa fan – just like Jack Grealish and Smith himself – in a tight call, but Benrahma seems like the better investment, especially as Lolley struggled in the Premier League with Huddersfield Town.
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