Aston Villa have made the Parma midfielder a priority target following Amadou Onana’s ACL injury at the World Cup, according to TEAMtalk.
Onana, who sustained the injury during Belgium’s win over the United States, is expected to be sidelined for most of next season. Villa are reported to be moving for Keita “ahead of Leeds and Everton” — Everton’s interest is already advanced, with club-to-club talks opened before Atalanta’s involvement added competition from Italy.
Villa were not previously pursuing another central midfielder, with Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans and John McGinn considered sufficient options.
TEAMtalk reports the club have carried out background work on three candidates since Onana’s injury: Keita, Monaco’s Lamine Camara and Villarreal’s Pape Gueye. Keita is valued at around £26m, close to the €25m figure Everton were previously told they would need.
Villa’s Champions League football and Europa League pedigree give them a strong hand in any direct competition for the player.
Hackney’s arrival and Rohl’s permanent move have already strengthened Everton’s midfield options this summer, but Keita was seen as the signing to address the gap left by Idrissa Gana Gueye’s departure. A move that looked competitive against Atalanta alone now has a third serious party involved.
Watch this space. You never know.
