Fabrizio Romano says Jeremy Doku has emerged as a target for Aston Villa, seen as an alternative to Moussa Diaby. Unai Emery’s side have added the Rennes winger to their list as an alternative to the Bayer Leverkusen star.
Unai Emery seeks a high-end wide attacker at all costs in this window. Aston Villa have been active in this transfer window and have madesome headline signings. Youri Tielemans' free transfer became a major coup, but they did not stop there.
To the surprise of many, Villa managed to sign Pau Torres in a deal much lower than his original release clause. With the defender, Emery got his objective of a left-footed center-back and now has moved to bring a much-needed attacker to his ranks.
Villa might look to offload Bertrand Traore and Leon Bailey for reasonable offers but, in turn, want a top-quality winger in their squad. Moussa Diaby remains the primary target, and Bayer Leverkusen has already rejected their first bid.
Villa lodged a €35 million offer plus add-ons, which fell well short of Leverkusen’s asking price. Emery’s side are preparing an updated bid for the Frenchman, but they may not want to drag this into a transfer saga. Hence, the club is already looking at alternatives, with Rennes star Jeremy Doku on their shortlist.
Doku has been decent for the Ligue 1 side but has attracted Premier League interest before. Liverpool are also keen on the winger, but Jurgen Klopp is currently focusing on strengthening his midfield.
Once those areas are secured, Klopp might launch an effort to sign the 21-year-old attacker. However, there are no guarantees that Liverpool or any other club will make offers during the window. Villa could prepare a bid if they suffer defeat in the Diaby chase.
Diaby is more prolific and direct than Doku, but either will suit Villa’s cause. They will ideally want the Frenchman, who may also wait for offers from other suitors like Arsenal or Newcastle United. Hence, these deals could prove complex for Emery’s side.
Doku can bean excellent signing, but Villa must show intent. In the future, the 21-year-old attacker will consider this an opportunity to enter the Premier League. Any move to the Midlands remains dependent on Villa’s pursuit of Diaby.
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