Aston Villa have beaten two Premier League clubs to the capture of Anwar El Ghazi on a permanent deal from Lille, according to Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castle.
The reporter claimed via his personal Twitter account on Monday afternoon that Lille received offers from two top-flight clubs before Aston Villa triggered their option to buy the 24-year-old following a successful loan spell in the West Midlands last season
Understand that Lille received offers from two other Premier League clubs for Anwar El Ghazi before Aston Villa exercised their option to take the Netherlands international on a full transfer.
Villa's option was about to expire. #AVFC #LOSC #NEDhttps://t.co/PxphR3N8Su https://t.co/tMmUQhqayf— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) June 10, 2019
Castles claimed last year, when El Ghazi originally joined Aston Villa, they had agreed a £7.1million option-to-buy clause with Lille and that clause has now come into use with Villa confirming the Dutchman’s arrival on Monday.
He’s back! ?
We’re delighted to confirm @AElGhazi7 has signed on a permanent deal.https://t.co/Ul4YFczCBc#AVFC pic.twitter.com/VCUI5AfZcY
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) June 10, 2019
OPINION
Aston Villa fans are already thrilled to see El Ghazi’s move from Lille being confirmed, and they are surely even more pleased to know that two of their new Premier League rivals have had their pursuit of the attacker killed off. El Ghazi was great for Villa last season, especially under Dean Smith’s leadership, so to have him in the Premier League is a great boost to this summer’s business and gives the Villans an extra weapon in their attack. Last season, the former Ajax winger scored six goals and supplied six assists in 36 appearances across all competitions for the West Midlands club. He really came to life in the final weeks of the campaign to help Villa finish in the play-off spots and then win promotion via the play-off final, in which he scored, against Derby. For £7.1million, Villa have struck a bargain deal here and Lille will surely be kicking themselves for agreeing such a low option-to-buy clause.