Aston Villa decided to sell Jordan Veretout two years ago.
According to reports in Marseille editorial Coeurmarseillais, the French club are plotting a £13 million deal for former Aston Villa midfielder Jordan Veretout.
The former Nantes man joined the Villans under then-manager Tim Sherwood but being thrust in to the struggling Premier League side meant he endured a tough start at Villa Park.
A change in manager and subsequent relegation only placed further doubts over the midfielder, and many supporters at Villa Park were happy for the Frenchman to be moved on just 12 months after signing him.
Instead of keeping him for the Championship campaign, Villa seemingly cut their losses on the player with the Birmingham Mail claiming the club received a fee of just over £6 million upon selling him to Fiorentina.
Veretout had plenty of potential, and perhaps Villa will now look back on letting him go as a big mistake as two years on the midfielder is now being lined up for a £13 million switch to French giants Marseille.
The 25-year-old notched an impressive eight goals and grabbed a further assist in 36 Serie A starts over the past 12 months, making him one of the most effective midfielders in the Italian top-flight.
It’s no surprise to see him now linked with an eight-figure fee to a club playing regular European football and considering his age he still has plenty of room for improvement.
Villa currently find themselves in a financial mess and facing the prospect of another long Championship campaign after losing the playoff final 1-0 to west London club Fulham at Wembley.
With hindsight, not only could Veretout have made a difference to their promotion hopes had he stayed, he also could have been an ideal player to cash in on with that burden now falling on fans favourite Jack Grealish.
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