Already thinking ahead about potential summer reinforcements, Aston Villa have now reportedly made contact over a deal to sign a £25m sensation who recently dominated England’s U21 side.
Aston Villa join race to sign France U21 star
Whilst it has seemed as though they’ve endured a season full of inconsistency at times, Aston Villa find themselves in an FA Cup semi-final, a Champions League quarter-final and in with every chance of qualifying for Europe’s top competition for a second season running in the Premier League. And that qualification would undoubtedly play a large part in their pursuit of summer targets.
Monchi now wants Aston Villa to sign £83k-p/w Real Madrid ace this summer
Aston Villa are the latest team to join the race…
ByBrett WorthingtonMar 31, 2025
On that front, a number of potential reinforcements have already emerged, including the likes of Arda Guler. The Real Madrid youngster has struggled for game time in Spain in the face of such talented competition and has now reportedly attracted the attention of Villa sporting director Monchi.
The Turkish international would certainly be quite the coup. Although he has struggled to steal the headlines at Madrid, Guler could become an instant star in the Midlands just as Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford have fresh from their own struggles.
He’s not the only young star that the Villans have set their sights on, however. According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now made contact to sign Rayan Cherki, asking Lyon to be kept informed about the winger’s transfer status in the coming months.
Available for just £25m this summer, Cherki is likely to be one of the bargains of the window and has already attracted a list of interested parties as a result. Joining Villa in the race for his signature is reportedly Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in what should prove to be a hectic battle to welcome one of Europe’s rising stars when the summer arrives.
"Magnificent" Cherki is a rising star
The interest in Cherki from the Premier League should come as little surprise after he put on the show of all shows against England U21s during the international break, scoring once and assisting twice in a 5-3 victory for France. It was an evening stroll for a player whose quality belongs and is destined for the highest level.
It’s not the first time that the 21-year-old has impressed this season either, having scored eight goals and assisted an eye-watering 18 in all competitions for Lyon to earn the praise of Jacek Kulig. The scout/analyst described Cherki’s campaign as “magnificent” at the beginning of March and has seen him get better and better ever since.
As the race for his signature heats up, Cherki looks destined to have a decision to make which could yet end in a summer switch to Villa Park.
