After €60m Moussa Diaby deal, Aston Villa will consider a move for Jérémy Doku | OneFootball

Premier League side Aston Villa had a victory in the transfer market on Thursday after convincing French international winger Moussa Diaby to opt for a move from Bayer Leverkusen, beating Saudi 1st division side Al-Nassr to the punch for the player in the process, in a deal that will cost AVFC €50m plus €10m in bonuses, as reported by L’Équipe.

Villa had an initial understanding with Leverkusen yesterday for €45m plus €5m in bonuses but responded to Al-Nassr’s 2nd written offer that was received by the German side this morning in order to definitively win out the bidding war.

Al Nassr are understood to have offered a smaller initial financial package to the German club, but with an instalment structure that would have provided Bayer Leverkusen with more of the money that makes up the transfer fee more quickly than the deal with Aston Villa will provide them with.

According to our colleagues at Sports Zone, Aston Villa’s Head of Football Operations, Monchi, has not finished here with his desire to add more winger talent to the squad.

Rennes winger Jérémy Doku remains a target for the Villains. The Belgian international initially stood as a back-up option during Villa’s pursuit of Diaby, but it now appears that Villa may seek to add his qualities alongside that of Diaby.

Doku has long been linked to another Premier League side, Liverpool, but it is understood that there has been no contact of any significance between the relevant parties apart from an initial enquiry several months back.

Doku is enticed by a move to the Premier League and Rennes will sell the player if their financial demands are met.

GFFN | James Thorpe