Aston Villa in contact to sign £60m Premier League star

As Aston Villa prepare to build a squad that can compete in the Champions League next season, some players may find themselves in a difficult position at Villa Park.

The Villians will look to improve Unai Emery‘s squad during the summer transfer window, which opened for business this week, and that means that some of the stars from the 2025/26 campaign could be replaced.

For example, Emiliano Buendia started 21 times in the Premier League and 12 times in the Europa League this season for the Spanish head coach, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists.

After coming in from the cold last summer after a loan spell with Bayer Leverkusen, the Argentina international forced his way back into the squad and ended up contributing to the team’s success.

The former Norwich City star ended up starting regularly alongside Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins as part of Emery’s attacking unit in the big games.

Buendia, who scored a wonderful goal against Freiburg in the final of the Europa League last month, may not be a guaranteed starter when the 2026/27 campaign gets underway.

That is because the club are reportedly looking at a move for a star who could arrive at Villa Park as an even better option on the left flank next season.

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Villans have made contact to be kept informed about his situation at Anfield, as a summer exit is on the cards for the Netherlands international.

It adds that the Dutch forward does not want to be a back-up on Merseyside next season after Arne Slot was sacked and replaced by Andoni Iraola, which may open the door to a transfer away from Liverpool.

Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Besiktas, Fenerbahce and RB Leipzig are also being kept informed about Gakpo, who Caught Offside recently reported could cost around £60m.

Why Cody Gakpo would be better than Emi Buendia for Aston Villa

Villa need to improve their squad to compete for the Champions League trophy, after winning the Europa League, which means that they need to upgrade their team across the pitch.

As impressive as Buendia was at times in the 2025/26 campaign, Gakpo’s form for Liverpool and PSV in recent years suggests that he could offer far more than him in the final third.

Their respective performances in the Premier League this season also show that the Netherlands international carries a greater threat at the top end of the pitch from a wide position, as he scored more goals and provided more assists.

Gakpo, who was once described as a “really dangerous” player by his national team coach Ronald Koeman, created twice as many ‘big chances’ for his teammates in the top-flight, suggesting that he would improve Villa’s creativity next season.

The Dutch star also scored ten goals and created 11 ‘big chances’ in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign when Liverpool won the title under Slot, which shows that he has consistently delivered in the final third during his time in England.

Whereas, Buendia has been inconsistent throughout his time at Villa Park. His 11-goal haul this season is the first time that he has hit double figures for goals or assists in all competitions since his £33m move from Norwich City in the summer of 2021.

Because of his struggles across his first four years with the Villans, it is hard to confidently say that he will continue to shine on the pitch heading into the 2026/27 campaign.

That is why Emery should be pushing for the club to win the race to sign Gakpo from Liverpool, should the Netherlands international become available for a transfer after the change in management at Anfield.

On top of being a better performer in the Premier League than Buendia, the Dutchman is also a proven Champions League performer with five goals and two assists in 22 appearances in the competition.

The 27-year-old, therefore, could be the perfect signing to come in and hit the ground running to improve Villa’s XI for a run in the Champions League next term.