OPINION
Aston Villa have surely been handed a boost in their hunt to sign Brentford striker Neal Maupay after it was reported that the in-demand Frenchman would like a move to the Premier League this summer.
The London Evening Standard has reported that while the 22-year-old won’t push to leave Griffin Park after a stellar campaign in the Championship, he would be open to joining teams in England’s top-flight before the start of next season amid interest from across Europe.
It is understood that teams in France, Germany and Italy are all eyeing up Maupay after he scored 28 goals and supplied nine assists in 49 appearances across all competitions for Brentford last season.
However all of those clubs could be snubbed in favour of Aston Villa, who are reportedly plotting a bid to sign the France Under-21 international.
The Sun reported last week that the Villans are plotting a £20million bid to reunite Maupay with his former Brentford manager Dean Smith, who signed the striker from Saint-Etienne in 2017 for £1.6million.
Brighton, Norwich and Sheffield United are also said to be interested in Maupay, according to the Evening Standard’s report, but there are multiple reasons as to why Aston Villa should be in pole position for his signature at this stage.
Smith’s link to Maupay could be the biggest key but Aston Villa are surely the best equipped to meet Brentford’s valuation of the centre-forward.
Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris are both billionaires and after Villa won promotion to the Premier League, they are bound to let Smith spend big on luring new players to Villa Park this summer.
There is reportedly a Villa bid already on the cards for Maupay and as he has his eyes set on the Premier League, Smith has surely been handed a major boost to his hopes of signing the striker this summer.