Aston Villa’s summer business hasn’t gone unnoticed.
The newly promoted Premier League club have been busy in the transfer market, and clearly aren’t afraid to invest to make sure they don’t go straight back to the Championship.
This has all led to endless rumours. Agents and clubs will likely be pushing players towards the Birmingham side and it’s easy for media to throw Villa’s name into the hat for potential signings.
The latest claim involves Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin, and comes from Calciomercato. He was set to join Benfica for around €15m, before the Lisbon club pulled out of the deal.
Contacts have already been initiated between Juve and Aston Villa, and the Turin club’s director of sport Fabio Paratici is expected in London ‘in the next few hours’. The asking price remains €15m, and Paratici would be travelling to ‘find agreement’ on the ‘formula and method of payment’.
The 26 year old was a very highly rated goalkeeper earlier in his career, but has struggled with injuries. According to the Portuguese media, the Benfica move failed because of the medical, with Perin currently being injured.
Juve had been prepared to send him initially on loan, because of the medical issue, but Benfica pulled out. This could be what Calciomercato are hinting at when they say Paratici will be working on the ‘formula and method of payment’.
In June 2015, Perin suffered a shoulder injury which kept him out until the following October. Then in April 2016 he ruptured a cruciate ligament, doing the same in January 2017. In April of this year he picked up a shoulder injury which is expected to see him out until November.
If he can put injuries aside (and it’s a big IF) and get back to his best, then Perin would be an excellent signing.
