Aston Villa face a challenge to hold on to Matt Targett with Leicester City keen to sign the left-back as Ben Chilwell’s replacement, according to the Mirror (28 August, page 52).
While the Foxes are desperate to avoid being seen as something of a ‘selling club’, the fact remains that they are usually forced to replace at least one star player each and every summer.
Earlier this week, Chilwell followed in the footsteps of Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante by joining Chelsea in a fee worth £50 million.
Joe Bryan, Nicolas Tagliafico and Robin Gosens have all been mentioned all potential replacements .
But, while Targett might seem like a step below an Argentine international or a Champions League quarter-finalist, he does have one advantage over the Ajax and Atalanta stars – proven Premier League experience.
Question marks were hanging over Targett during the first few months of 2019/20, largely due to a lack of fitness and form, but the former Southampton man improved as the season went on.
There was even a brilliantly taken goal as Villa beat Leicester in the EFL Cup semi-final.
With £50 million burning a hole in Brendan Rodgers’ pocket, you would imagine that Aston Villa will demand a sizeable sum for a man who set them back a hefty £18 million just last year.
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