Anderson isn’t averse to staying at current club, Lazio, either, but his current contract impasse is the reason why Villa could take advantage.
JUST IN: Aston Villa -sign superstar for two -year, $29.59million deal
Aston Villa are certainly going places this year under the studious tutelage of Unai Emery.
The Spaniard was often mocked during his time at Arsenal, but he’s having the last laugh at the moment, guiding his side to the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League, whilst sitting pretty in second place in the Premier League table, just two points behind leaders, Liverpool.
The Villains are playing some of the best football seen for years, and only Pep Guardiola’s swashbuckling Man City side have scored more than their 43 goals.
Though they’ve been fairly quiet on the transfer front in this window, an opportunity appears to have presented itself.
According to Calciomercato (h/t Fichajes), the Midlands-based outfit are interested in bringing West Ham flop, Felipe Anderson, back to the Premier League.
The 30-year-old certainly has the experience to be able to slot straight in at Villa Park given his 454 career appearances (transfermarkt), but fans will be rightly concerned that the club are looking at a player that only managed 12 goals in 73 West Ham appearances (transfermarkt).
That said, Emery has earned the trust of the fans and his judgment needs to be respected at this point.
Paul Merson believes Douglas Luiz can rival Declan Rice and Rodri at being the best in the Premier League – as Arsenal continue to be linked with a move for the Aston Villa midfielder.
The Gunners’ interest in the 25-year-old Brazil international is nothing new, with the North Londoners seeing three bids rejected by Aston Villa for Luiz back in September 2022.
But since Unai Emery has taken charge at Villa Park in the months after Arsenal’s failed pursuit of the midfielder, Luiz has gone from strength to strength and even helped the Midlanders sustain an unlikely Premier League title challenge this campaign.
Though despite spending over £100m in a deal to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United last summer, Arsenal continue to be linked with a move for the Aston Villa midfielder, who Merson believes is more than good enough to replace Fabinho and Casemiro on the international stage for Brazil.
I’ve been on about the Aston Villa man for god knows how long, so people know I’ve always been a huge fan of him,’ wrote Merson in his latest Sportskeeda column. “When Arsenal wanted to sign him a year ago, but people didn’t really rate him too highly but now, everyone can see what he’s all about as he’s been absolutely ripping it up for Aston Villa this season.
“He can sit as a holding midfielder and mop things up for his team but he also gets in the box and scores goals – as we’ve seen so often this season. He’s quite well-rounded and still very underrated, but in the 2023-24 campaign, he has started getting his fair share of recognition.”
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