Aston Villa have reportedly made contact over signing Fredrik Aursnes from Benfica.
Portuguese newspaper Record today writes that Unai Emery’s side ‘knocked on the door’ to get the 27-year-old landed this summer.
According to the report, there was a denial from Benfica to Aston Villa, with the Eagles claiming they are only letting the player go in this window in case his €50m release clause is triggered.
It turns out that the approach also worked as a warning for the Lisbon side, who started fresh talks to protect the player with a new contract that includes a higher release clause.
Record say that losing the midfielder is ‘out of question’ for Benfica this summer, and that’s why they didn’t even open talks with Aston Villa.
What makes us curious is that the report doesn’t make it clear how much the Villans were willing to pay for Aursnes, who’s currently valued by Transfermarkt at €20m.
In case they were pushing for something close to the release clause, perhaps there’s still some time for an attempt before his new contract with Benfica is signed.
