Aston Villa working on beating Leeds to two new signings

Aston Villa are close to beating Leeds United to two marquee signings as their summer refurbishment gathers pace.

Ollie Watkins will undergo a Villa medical today after they agreed a £28million deal with Brentford for the prolific striker.

A Villa source has told Football Insider the club are also well placed to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after submitting a new bid of around £15m.

The offer for the Argentine, 28, was submitted yesterday as Dean Smith steps up his search for a new keeper.

Leeds have also had a strong interest this summer in Watkins and Martinez, as they are in their shortlists for the centre-forward and keeper positions.

United are still interested in recruiting another striker despite the club-record signing of Rodrigo Moreno from Valencia 10 days ago for an initial £27m.

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In goal, Marcelo Bielsa has told former Real Madrid man Kiko Casilla he will be the number two if he stays behind 20-year-old Illan Meslier.

Key to the future of Martinez – and both Villa and Leeds’ hopes of landing him – will be Mikel Arteta’s selection for Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Fulham on Saturday.

Should Arteta plump for fit-again Bernd Leno ahead of Martinez after his starring role in the club’s FA Cup triumph and strong finish to 2019-20, that could be enough for the keeper to push for the exit.

The long-serving Gunners man has publicly made it clear he will look to leave if he reverts back to a deputy role.

In other news, Aston Villa have been tipped by Whelan to sign English ace after big Sky reveal.


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By: Wayne Veysey
Title: Aston Villa working on beating Leeds to two new signings
Sourced From: www.footballinsider247.com/sources-aston-villa-close-to-beating-leeds-to-two-marquee-signings-after-big-new-offer/
Published Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2020 07:00:20 +0000