Aston Villa not giving up on signing – And exit close to happening, player to arrive at new club today

Mondays edition of L’Equipe reports Marseille are working to sign Ivan Ilic from Hellas Verona. It’s a move that may be paused and then completed in the summer transfer window, with the French club’s window not going they way they hoped.

Leandro Trossard had been Marseille’s big target but once Arsenal entered the picture it became clear he’d be swapping Brighton & Hove Albion for the Premier League leaders.

L’Equipe make it clear that Ilic is a completely different player to Trossard, indeed he’s a defensive midfielder. That brings up Aston Villa interest in Matteo Guendouzi, but the French newspaper insist the two situations aren’t linked, whatever the natural assumption may be.

Nevertheless, it’s stated Aston Villa continue to ‘court’ Guendouzi, and clearly haven’t given up on their plan to sign him. Unai Emery will have some convincing to do, with the player feeling he can aim higher than Villa right now.

L’Equipe also cover Morgan Sanson’s loan move to Strasbourg, where he’ll arrive today. There’s no option to buy the Aston Villa player.