Aston Villa has successfully navigated Premier League profit and sustainability (PSR) rules and is now poised to strengthen their Champions League-qualified squad.
Unai Emery and Monchi have been active recently, securing deals for Ross Barkley and Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen. Additionally, the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus helped Villa comply with PSR regulations and facilitated the signings of Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior.
Villa plans to offload some surplus players this summer, potentially including left-backs Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno. With Maatsen requiring support, an experienced player has been targeted.
**Aston Villa Transfer News**
According to Spanish sources, Aston Villa is set to compete with Manchester United for Reinildo Mandava, who has one year left on his Atletico Madrid contract. The 30-year-old versatile defender has made a strong recovery from an ACL injury suffered at the start of 2023 and has been a key player for Diego Simeone’s side.
The Mozambique international might be available for just £8m, and his robust playing style could add depth and dynamism to Villa’s backline.
**Why Villa is Interested in Reinildo**
The Athletic’s David Ornstein suggests that recent shrewd business moves have alleviated fears of a points deduction or spending restrictions, but Villa remains cautious. Digne, one of the club’s highest earners, is considered for a transfer, likely to be replaced by Maatsen as the primary left-back.
Reinildo, despite missing the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, impressed with his athleticism and defensive skills. According to FBref, he ranks among the top 9% of his peers in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for tackles and successful take-ons, and the top 8% for progressive carries per 90 minutes. Furthermore, the 30-year-old won 66% of his ground duels in La Liga last season, compared to Digne’s 53%.
