‘Incredible offer’: Aston Villa chasing Brazilian midfield star with experience in England
Aston Villa are keeping tabs on Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara, according to reports in Turkey.
Villa have largely kept their powder dry in the summer transfer window so far, restricted by Premier League and UEFA financial regulations in the aftermath of their failure to qualify for a second season in the Champions League.
Veteran goalkeeper Marco Bizot and promising free agent Zépiqueno Redmond are the only new additions so far, with Yasin Özcan joining the first team squad after signing in February and Modou Kéba Cissé signing pre-contract terms before moving to Villa next year.
Reports in Turkey claim that Villa are ‘constantly testing the waters’ over a potential deal for Sara despite Galatasaray’s insistence that the 26-year-old is not for sale.
Sara has four years left on his contract and Fotospor reports that it won’t be easy for Monchi to persuade Galatasaray to sell him.
“Galatasaray’s decision regarding Sara is clear. The 26-year-old is definitely not on their sale list,” according to Fotospor. “However, if an incredible offer arrives, the situation could change.”
Villa are believed to face competition for the midfielder’s signature from newly promoted Premier League rivals Leeds United.
Sara knows English football well. After leaving boyhood club São Paulo in 2022 he spent three seasons with Norwich City, where he played a total of 85 matches in the Championship and attracted the attention of the Istanbul giants.
Capable of playing in the middle and in a more attacking role, Sara has played a more conservative role in Turkey, patrolling the midfield and creating from deep but rarely troubling the opposition box despite an impressive scoring record at Norwich.
Villa’s apparent interest in Sara raises as many questions as it answers. There are areas where Villa need to strengthen, deepen or both, and the centre of midfield isn’t one of them.
All clubs keep their options open in the transfer market – that’s Monchi’s job and it doesn’t just apply to a single transfer window but future plans and unexpected eventualities – but Sara’s contract and subsequent asking price would indicate that a move to Villa is somewhere towards the unlikely end of possible.
Villa’s pre-season friendlies have both been losses but the games against Walsall and Hansa Rostock offered encouraging signs in midfield, where the team’s depth and options look very solid.
Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley, Lamare Bogarde and youngster George Hemmings have all performed comfortably in the middle of the park in pre-season, while Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana and John McGinn will all travel with the squad to the United States this week.
Villa are well stocked in midfield, in my opinion, but it’s positive to hear that Villa are out there working on contingencies and futures. A deft touch in the transfer market is the best bet for long-term financial compliance.
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