Aston Villa are considering signing Juventus star Pierre Kalulu in the summer, as they approach a return to the Champions League.
Unai Emery’s side lost their last Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur and failed to secure a top-five finish. Nevertheless, they are still six points ahead of Brighton with three games left to play. At the same time, they are battling Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-finals, where they are 1-0 down after the first leg.
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The club is still confident of securing a place in the Champions League, and therefore they are now starting to make plans for the summer transfer window.
“One of the best in Italy”
Kalulu, who has been described as “one of the best defenders in Italy”, has become a key player at Juventus since joining from AC Milan. However, his contract situation has led to several clubs showing interest in him.
One of them is Aston Villa, who want to strengthen their defence with question marks over the long-term futures of Victor Lindelöf, Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings after the summer.
– Juve sells for the right price
Journalist Mark Brus shared in Caught Offside what he has heard about a transfer for Kalulu to Villa Park:
“I have spoken to my sources about a Serie A star who could go to the Premier League this summer after impressive form,” Brus wrote.
“Sources who have done a lot of work in and around the agent industry say that the suspicion is that Juventus will sell for the right price – perhaps around 40 million euros – especially if the player does not accept a new contract.
“Villa must make an extraordinary offer”
“Aston Villa’s interest adds a new layer to history. The Midlands club are keen to strengthen their defence and see Kalulu as a potential solution. Still, Juventus’ determination to keep him makes negotiations difficult.
“Only an extraordinary bid can force the Italians to reconsider their position, and Villa’s financial Fair Play problems make this unlikely without a big sale. But with all the speculation surrounding Morgan Rogers, it may be something you can’t completely rule out, writes Brus.
“Kalulu and Konsa could be a sensational couple”
Ezri Konsa’s rise as one of the best defenders in the Premier League has helped Aston Villa immensely in recent years. Now he can finally get the help he needs.
Kalulu’s physical dominance and experience will be a big upgrade compared to the current options at Aston Villa. With the club hoping to survive the league phase of the Champions League next season, a strong defence will be crucial.
Emery knows how to get the best out of his squad and he is always improving his players. This could be a very exciting transition if it goes through.
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