Aston Villa are reportedly in negotiations with AC Milan over the signing of left-back Pervis Estupinan.
It comes amid speculation suggesting that Lucas Digne will join Paris Saint-Germain following the conclusion of the World Cup, with the French giants set to trigger a release clause in the Frenchman’s contract which will see him depart in a deal worth less than £10m.
While Ian Maatsen is expected to step up and make that starting spot his own with Digne no longer providing competition, depth is still needed by Unai Emery as he looks to assemble a squad capable of competing across multiple competitions again next season.
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Further, competition will drive Maatsen to keep pushing to improve and develop his own game and so it’s essential that we add another option, and as per Calciomercato, Estupinan has emerged as the top candidate to provide that with the report suggesting that negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs.
It’s added that the Ecuadorian international’s valuation is set at €20m, but Villa are not prepared to spend that on him, and so although it’s claimed that Estupinan is a specific request from Emery given that they have worked together previously at Villarreal, it remains to be seen if a deal can be agreed or not.
Although his stock has perhaps fallen since he displayed his best form for Brighton, the 28-year-old has gained invaluable experience across La Liga, the Premier League and Serie A, and coupled with the fact that he knows what Emery demands and is suited to the system and style of play we’ve adopted, it could be a good fit that proves to be a smart addition.
While we await official confirmation of Digne’s departure, it seems likely that Villa will move quickly to bring in his replacement, and as things stand, Estupinan is seemingly the favourite option to provide that solution.
