Aston Villa eye Spain U21 defender but Kalvin Phillips deal looks unlikely

Few Aston Villa fans can complain about the club's proactive transfer business to date this summer but there are more exits and possible frustration on the horizon.

Villa have been busy recruiting Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos and the permanent signings of Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen after successful loans. Matt Targett completed a £15million move to Newcastle United yesterday and more players could follow him out of the door to boost boss Steven Gerrard's transfer budget this summer.

Gerrard is also said to be keen to acquire a left-sided defender and is in the market for another striker to add to his attacking arsenal of Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League season, plus potentially another midfielder too. Mirror Football looks at the latest Villa transfer news and rumours.

Anderlecht defender linked

Villa will step up efforts to recruit a new left-back after Matt Targett sealed a £15million switch to Newcastle on a bumper four-year deal worth over £100,000-a-week, Mirror Sport understands. The Magpies triggered their option to sign the 26-year-old on a permanent basis following his impressive loan spell during the second half of the season. Villa will now seek a replacement to provide cover and competition for £25million January signing Lucas Digne. Several targets have been scouted with the club wanting a young, up-and-coming player who can develop as understudy to the France international.

Targett, who joined Villa for an initial £11m in 2019, started the season as first-choice but did not make an appearance after Digne's arrival from Everton. Now Villa are looking to reinvest in targets including RSC Anderlecht's Spanish U21 international Sergio Gomez, 21, according to the Athletic.

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Phillips hopes fading

Leeds ace Kalvin Phillips has been a long-term target for Aston Villa but he could be lured away to Manchester City according to the Daily Telegraph. The champions are expected to step up their interest in Phillips over the next few weeks. The 26-year-old England ace has been a transfer target of Villa's since 2019 and rejected the chance to sign for then-boss Dean Smith before helping Leeds to secure promotion in 2020.

Villa have signed midfielder Boubacar Kamara this summer, a player in a similar mould, but Villa are said to still hold an interest in the Leeds man with Gerrard intent on further improving the spine of his starting XI at Villa Park.

Yet Pep Guardiola is reportedly poised to step up his pursuit of the talented No.6. City chiefs see Phillips as the perfect replacement for the outgoing Fernandinho, and even view Phillips as a potential ball-playing centre-back. He'll also add even more physicality to City's ranks following their exciting capture of striker Erling Haaland from Dortmund for £67.5million. It would constitute another blow to Villa with fellow long-term target Yves Bissouma set to go elsewhere too this summer.

More to follow Targett

Villa were apparently willing to sanction a quick exit for Targett to boost their finances after major expenditure this summer on the likes of Coutinho according to the Express and Star. Now further exits are likely as Villa look to readdress their squad and finances. The club are willing to listen to offers for fringe players including Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet who were both loaned out earlier this year to Everton and Istanbul Basaksehir respectively.

While central midfielder Douglas Luiz, who has just one year remaining on his contract, has been attracting interest from Roma where boss Jose Mourinho is believed to be an admirer of the former Manchester City ace. Elsewhere Nottingham Forest want Keinan Davis and Preston want Cameron Archer after their successful loans but boss Gerrard has pledged to assess the duo in pre-season before making firm plans for their future.