Aston Villa will not be signing Udinese winger Gerard Deulofeu this month, it has been confirmed by a reputable report. Linked tirelessly with a move to Villa Park over recent weeks, it seemed inevitable that the Spaniard would make a Premier League return, but that has now been ruled out.
The Villans made an inquiry to Udinese earlier this month, with new manager Unai Emery keen on bringing in a “winger with different characteristics”. Deulofeu, who can play anywhere in the front three, certainly fits the bill, and he has been in excellent form, but a new injury rules out a move.
“There will be no transfer for Gerard Deulofeu in January,” Fabrizio Romano reported this morning. Former Watford and Barcelona player requires surgery after sustaining a new injury — no chance of a deadline move. Deulofeu was on the radar of Aston Villa and other clubs, but he has decided to stay at Udinese.”
It had previously been reported that Deulofeu had a “rich offer in hand” from Villa, with Emery’s team willing to pay nearly €20 million for his services. However, with Emery still desperate to sign a new wide forward, the Lions will have to look elsewhere.
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Last week, Villa attempted a club-record £45 million bid to meet Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams’ release clause, but the 20-year-old wonderkid is content in Spain. Another name that has surfaced is Real Betis star Luiz Henrique, who has been linked with Manchester United, Arsenal, and Newcastle United.
Henrique, a 22-year-old Brazilian who can play on either flank, is likely to be the priority target now that Deulofeu’s transfer is off the table. However, he is expected to cost more than €50 million (£44 million), making a January move difficult. Hakim Ziyech, the out-of-sorts Chelsea wideman, has also been mentioned.
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