Aston Villa will have to do some serious sweet-talking if they are to twist Melayro Bogarde’s arm.
After all, this is not the first time the highly-rated Hoffenheim centre-back has had Premier League scouts fluttering their eyelashes in his direction.
But, when packing his bags and bidding farewell to Feyenoord back in 2018, Bogarde turned down the chance to join a trio of English giants in favour of a move to Germany.
“I didn’t want to be loaned out – that would have happened at the English clubs. I wanted to grow up at Hoffenheim,” the Dutchman told AD, explaining why he decided against putting pen to paper with Arsenal, Manchester City or Chelsea.
So, with Aston Villa expressing an interest in a man who has forced his way into Hoffenheim’s first-team plans in recent months (BILD), it is quite clear what Bogarde needs to hear.
The Holland youth star wants to be a name, not a number. Bogarde was never going to sign up to be a member of Chelsea’s lengthy loan legion, while he perhaps felt that the path to the senior squad was going to be blocked at Manchester City or Arsenal.
Fortunately, Aston Villa have a coach in Dean Smith who loves to give youth a chance.
As the likes of Jacob Ramsey, Keinan Davis and homegrown hero Jack Grealish will tell you, there will always be an opportunity for academy graduates to make a name for themselves at Villa Park.
Since raiding rivals West Brom for academy manager Mark Harrison, the Midland giants have been hard at work transforming their Bodymoor Heath base into a home for some of the most exciting young talent in Europe.
Ben Chrisene was linked with Bayern Munich and Chelsea before joining Villa from Exeter, while fellow summer signings Sil Swinkels, Oliwier Zych and Coalon McBride are also highly regarded within scouting circles.
Bogarde would certainly be in good hands at Villa Park.
Di Marzio, meanwhile, claims the youngster is also a target for Barcelona and AC Milan.
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