Patient Aston Villa won’t pay over the odds for transfer targets
Villa are determined to maintain a patient approach to summer recruitment as rivals continue to demand big fees for their top targets.
Reports yesterday claimed Dean Smith’s men had seen a £12million bid rejected for Bristol City’s Adam Webster, one of several defenders being considered.
It has been claimed the Robins want as much as £30million for the centre-back, who joined them for just £3.5million from Ipswich 12 months ago.
Villa have also, to this point, met with frustration in their attempts to negotiate deals for Said Benrahma, Kalvin Phillips and Tyrone Mings.
The £22million record signing of Wesley Moraes from Club Brugge demonstrated Villa’s ambition following promotion back to the Premier League, but they will not be forced into paying too far over the odds.
One departure from Villa Park has seen goalkeeper Matija Sarkic has joined Scottish Premiership club Livingston on a season-long loan.
The 21-year-old, Villa’s fourth-choice shot-stopper, will head north of the border in the hope of gaining valuable first-team experience.
League One Burton Albion are also thought to have been interested in Sarkic, a Montenegro under-21 international.
Villa have meanwhile been handed an extra batch of tickets for next month’s friendlies at Shrewsbury and Walsall, after the initial allocations sold out in a little over 24 hours earlier this week.
