Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield has urged Aston Villa to target Donny van de Beek after missing out on Arsenal creative midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
Villa boss Dean Smith had Smith Rowe on his summer wishlist and the club saw two bids – with the second offer totalling £30million – rejected by the Gunners.
Smith’s hopes of landing Smith Rowe appear to be over after the 20-year-old signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal last month.
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As a result, Villa will need to turn their attentions elsewhere and Hatfield believes van de Beek could be an ideal alternative.
The Dutchman joined Manchester United for a fee rising to £39million last September.
However, the move has not gone to plan as the ex-Ajax midfielder only made 15 starts last season.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already strengthened his attacking options with the £73million signing of England international Jadon Sancho, which could impact van de Beek’s opportunities further.
Hatfield has called on Villa to take advantage and persuade van de Beek to rediscover his best form by seeking a new challenge.
Speaking exclusively to TIF, Hatfield said: “I’d really like to see them go for Donny van de Beek. It doesn’t seem like it’s worked for him at Manchester United, so could a move be on the cards for him?
“He’d be the type of player who I’d really be excited to see. If I was Villa, I’d be really keen to look at him because it hasn’t worked for him at United and maybe there’s a deal to be done.”