Aston Villa duo Matty Cash and Douglas Luiz are both reportedly of interest to AC Milan after a meeting between the two clubs last week.
The Villa pair were both key individuals for Unai Emery last season, playing pivotal roles in our fourth-place finish in the Premier League and run to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
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While Cash made 46 appearances across all competitions, Luiz featured 53 times, and particularly with a lack of quality depth and competition to fill those voids at right-back and in central midfield when they’re unavailable, they are fundamental options for the Villa boss.
However, as reported by Calciomercato, Milan are particularly keen on Cash as they look to strengthen their options in defence this summer, but with Villa said to be valuing the Polish international at over €20m, it remains to be seen if the Italian giants are willing to meet our touted demands.
Meanwhile, the report goes on to add that the Rossoneri are also interested in Luiz, but Juventus are said to be ahead in their pursuit of the Brazilian midfielder, and so it remains to be seen if there will be competition for his signature in the coming weeks.
Speculation has been rife over the past 10 days that Villa will have to sell this month in order to avoid breaching PSR parameters and thus risking a sanction for going beyond the allowed losses over the last three-year period.
In turn, it’s to be expected that rumours have linked various key players with an exit this summer, but it remains to be seen if Emery is firstly willing to allow Cash and Luiz to be sacrificed, and subsequently if the answer is yes, whether or not any interested parties are able to make suitable offers to reach an agreement.
Ideally, we wouldn’t have to sell anyone this summer and can strengthen around the core of our current group to build on what was a fantastic season last year. However, all the signs in the media, both in England and Italy, are seemingly pointing towards the same enforced outcome of Villa selling players this month to give ourselves financial flexibility to then bring in reinforcements of our own.