Leeds & Aston Villa battling to sign World Cup star as race leader confirmed

Aston Villa are fresh from European glory and Champions League qualification. Unai Emery has every right to sit back and admire what he’s built this summer, but his dream life simply isn’t the reality for the Villans.

They’ve still got SCR (formerly PSR) to consider and face the prospect of selling at least one big name to finally put an end to their financial limitations.

So, is it worth the sacrifice? A year ago, the answer was a resounding no. Villa kept their star names and have reaped the rewards ever since. Emiliano Martinez stayed put despite what turned into an awkward goodbye months prior, and so did Morgan Rogers.

12 months on, however, the answer could be different. Reports are now suggesting that Aston Villa are open to Martinez’s departure, while Arsenal are also eyeing Rogers.

Martinez has found himself on Juventus’ radar and that is certainly one to watch. The Italian giants have already missed out on Alisson Becker and will not want to miss out on another Premier League name.

It hands Villa plenty to consider. After all, how do you replace a World Cup winner who has helped play a key role in the club’s rise in recent years?

The only way to replace world-class quality may be to sign future world-class quality for those in the Midlands.

According to TeamTalk, Aston Villa have made contact to sign Zion Suzuki from Parma this summer. The young goalkeeper has a release clause worth €40m (£34m), but could leave his current club for around €30m (£26m) in the coming months.

It hands Villa a major opportunity, but they’re not the only Premier League side with Suzuki in mind. Joining them, Leeds United have also listed the Japan international as a target, as they look to end years of chaos between the sticks.

Just when Daniel Farke thought he’d solved his side’s problems with the addition of Lucas Perri last season, they re-emerged in Groundhog Day-like fashion. So much so, that Karl Darlow was back in goal by the end of the campaign.

It simply cannot continue every year. Darlow himself knows that. He’s now 35 years old and on course to become a free agent this summer.

The bad news for those at Elland Road is that they’re not in pole position to sign Suzuki. That is very much Aston Villa’s for the taking at this stage after they made fresh contact with the goalkeeper’s intermediaries.

They must still find a middle ground when it comes to Parma’s asking price, but the Villans are certainly heading in the right direction towards the goalkeeper, who was dubbed “phenomenal” by Como scout Ben Mattinson last year.

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