Aston Villa seen as genuine contenders for transfer, and Newcastle power looks a block too

 

It’s perhaps surprising that Aston Villa’s interest in Amadou Diawara has been laughed off in Italy. The 19 year old Bologna midfielder has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, and right now Villa don’t fall into that category.

The Championship side are looking for an immediate return to the big time, and therefore their interest was also a surprise. It’s a big ask for a youngster to move from Serie A and have an immediate impact in England’s second tier, the culture is completely different.

Yet on Monday, Gazzetta dello Sport cover the interest again, saying Villa and Napoli have both made actual approaches to sign him.

Juventus have been linked and Gazzetta believe the Turin club may well be moving on from other targets. Newcastle United have stood firm over Moussa Sissoko’s asking price, and Gazzetta say the midfielder would cost ‘a fortune’.

The financial power of The Championship, at least compared to other countries, means it’s not so easy for clubs to snatch Sissoko, and that unlikely approaches from clubs like Villa are taken more seriously.