Aston Villa and West Ham to battle it out for free transfer – Ideal bargain signing for both clubs

Aston Villa and West Ham United are both in the competition for Lyon striker Moussa Dembele, according to claims from France.

As the 26-year-old’s contract with the French side expires this summer, the chance of signing him for free is drawing big interest from several clubs.

Ignazio Genuardi writes that Dembele ‘can count’ on the interest from Premier League sides, with Aston Villa and West Ham included.

The two clubs are said to be ‘notably on the track’ for the Frenchman, and should also face the competition from Italian giants Inter Milan.

It turns out that Dembele only has three goals in 17 appearances for Lyon this season, and his current scoring record is certainly not what attracted Aston Villa and West Ham to this signing.

Geruardi adds that in the Hammers’ case, they also have another centre-forward as an option. That’s Strasbourg’s Habib Diallo, who does have an impressive record this season, with 17 goals scored in Ligue 1 so far. But he’s in a different situation, protected by a contract until 2025 and valued by Transfermarkt at €14m.