Aston Villa have made contact with a European side ahead of a potential move for two of their young stars, according to a new report.
Aston Villa transfer news
The Villans have just come off the back of what was a very busy January transfer window, as they brought in five new players and saw eight players leave Villa Park. The most noticeable departure was Jhon Duran, who joined Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, but Villa will hope the arrival of Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, can help fill the void at the top end of the pitch.
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The Midlands side do have a buy option for Rashford, as signing a new striker will be a priority in the summer, but he is not the only player that could replace Duran in the long term, as Villa are monitoring Moise Kean from Fiorentina. The forward is in sensational form this season, already having 15 goals to his name, and given he has a £43 million release clause, Villa could look to bring him back to England.
As well as looking at Kean, Villa are also interested in a potential deal for Jean-Philippe Mateta. There are doubts over his long-term future at Selhurst Park given his contract situation, and Villa could look to take advantage of that by making an offer for him during the summer transfer window.
But it is not just Kean and Mateta on Villa’s radar ahead of the summer, as according to Birmingham World, Aston Villa have initiated contact with Olympiacos in a bid to sign Charalampos Kostoulas and Christos Mouzakitis.
This report states that Kostoulas and Mouzakitis have been regulars in Olympiacos’ first team despite being just 17 and 18, and their performances have led to teams from the Premier League showing an interest in signing them. Villa as well as Arsenal have already formally expressed an interest in the young duo, while it is also claimed that Man United and Brentford have sent scouts to watch the pair live in action.
It goes on to add that Villa prefers signing Kostoulas, who is a centre-forward, but they are keen on both players. At 17, Kostoulas is already becoming an important player for the Greek side, as he’s started four of their Europa League group stage games this season and has started 11 Super League 1 games, during which he has scored five goals. Standing at 6 foot 1, Kostoulas has not only shown his ability in the air but has also proven he is very quick in a foot race.
Meanwhile, Mouzakitis is a central midfielder, and his form for Olympiacos has already earned him his first international cap for Greece. The 18-year-old, who has been likened to Andrés Iniesta by locals, has started 20 of the 27 games he has played in all competitions this season.
The midfielder is seen as someone who has the ability to control games and split defences with his excellent, precise passing. Both players are very young in their football careers but have done enough to emerge on Villa’s radar, and the Midlands side may see them as the next young stars to break into their first team.