Nice chief executive Julien Fournier could head to Aston Villa this summer, according to Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol.
The reporter claimed via his personal Twitter account on Wednesday that Villa are believed to be among the potential destinations for Fournier, with the Frenchman likely to leave his senior role at Ligue 1 side Nice to move to England and take up a director of football position.
Nice chief executive Julien Fournier is a man in demand. Likely to move to England this summer in director of football role. Aston Villa and Burnley among possible destinations
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) May 22, 2019
Aston Villa could face competition to secure the appointment of Fournier as Premier League club Burnley has also been mentioned as somewhere he could head next.
OPINION
It will be interesting to see if Aston Villa make a move to appoint Fournier in a director of football role ahead of next season. Villa will be hoping to spend the summer preparing their plans for the Premier League, with Dean Smith’s side facing Derby County in the Championship play-off final. Fournier would arrive with a wealth of experience of operating in a role at the top of a football club, having previously been the president of Racing Club Strasbourg, as well as being the Secretary General at Marseille until 2009. The Frenchman has recently been at Ligue 1 side Nice in a role of chief executive, and he was part of the club’s board when they appointed former Arsenal player Patrick Vieria as manager, and the Frenchman guided Nice to an eighth place finish in the French top flight this season. However, it now appears that Fournier could be heading to England, with Villa facing competition from Burnley for his services, a director of football could help take some of the pressure of Smith with regards to recruitment this summer, and with his contacts and knowledge of French football Fournier could help the club sign some talented players from Ligue 1 if appointed.