Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Norwich City duo Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia, while Tom Heaton has been linked with an exit this summer.
Villa will likely be busy in improving our squad as we look to continue our progress off the back of what will hopefully be a top-half finish in the Premier League this season.
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Having narrowly avoided relegation last year, Dean Smith and the squad have certainly kicked on and shown development this season, and it will be important that we continue to bring in quality players to help us cement ourselves as a top-flight club again, and one that is capable of pushing on for more ambitious objectives.
According to the Daily Mail, Cantwell is said to be on our transfer radar, with the Norwich ace said to be valued at around £30m.
The 23-year-old has scored six goals and provided six assists in 32 appearances so far this season, helping the Canaries secure promotion back to the Premier League.
From that perspective, it would seem like a good signing, but the report does go on to suggest that Villa would make a move with a view of replacing Jack Grealish, as our captain continues to be linked with an exit.
It seems highly unlikely that we’ll entertain offers for our influential playmaker and there has been no suggestion from him that he would consider a move elsewhere in the near future. In turn, it remains to be seen just how accurate this report is and whether or not Cantwell could arrive even if Grealish does stay as expected.
Further, with Norwich coming up next season, they will surely have no desire to sell their best players and Cantwell may well want to be part of their continued progression having helped them return to the top flight.
Meanwhile, BirminghamLive, via the Sun, claim that Villa have made Cantwell’s current teammate Buendia ‘a top summer transfer target’.
It’s added that Smith is ‘keen’ on a move and will look to bolster our options in that department as we’re not expected to make Ross Barkley’s loan spell a permanent move from Chelsea.
Buendia, 24, has been a pivotal player for Norwich this past year, scoring 14 goals and providing 17 assists in 39 games.
So again, the same would surely apply in that they will have zero interest in losing a player of his quality, and coming back up to the Premier League will help them significantly in keeping him.
Elsewhere, The Sun report that Man Utd could be lining up a move for Tom Heaton at the end of the season as they look to add more depth and competition between the posts.
The 35-year-old is coming back from a lengthy injury layoff and has seen Emiliano Martinez cement his place as our No.1 this season. Given his experience and quality, Heaton won’t be content with a back-up role at Villa Park, but time will tell if he would accept a similar slot at Old Trafford.
Heaton’s current contract expires in the summer, and so a decision on his future will likely be revealed sooner rather than later.
