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Turning down the chance to sign for AFC Bournemouth last January, Nicolo Zaniolo decided to go to Galatasaray to escape AS Roma, but Aston Villa have since come knocking.

Unai Emery is looking for a new playmaker in his team, and his pursuit of the Italian started a while before the 5-1 defeat against Newcastle.

Monchi has been hard at work to bring the player to Aston Villa, and the Spanish director of football is on the verge of seeing his efforts rewarded, as Gianluca Di Marzio claims that Zaniolo ‘is expected in England’ on Wednesday to undergo his medical.

It’s reported the deal will take place in the form of a loan with an option to buy, and he will come in to take the place of Emi Buendia, who suffered a serious injury before the season started.

Therefore, we can expect the 24-year-old to travel on Wednesday morning after Aston Villa and Galatasaray ‘reached an agreement’ on the deal.

Prior to his move to Turkey, Zaniolo had scored 24 goals and assisted another 18 in 128 appearances for AS Roma, and then found the back of the net five times in 12 games for his new side during the second half of last season.