According to French outlet L’Equipe, Aston Villa have had a €7m (£6.4m) bid rejected by Angers SCO for their midfielder Baptiste Santamaria.
Dean Smith has already added defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz to his ranks in a £15m deal from Manchester City whilst Sky Sports have reported that Club Brugge midfielder Marvelous Nakamba is to undergo a medical ahead of a move to Villa Park.
The reports have left many of the Villa fanbase discussing their midfield with some supporters baffled by the need for further midfield additions.
One fan said the club needed another striker and a goalkeeper, and to start shipping some players out whilst another member of the Villa Park crowd said they were signing all of the midfielders so there is none left for other clubs.
Santamaria made 40 appearances for Angers last season and has impressed in his three seasons in France’s top-flight – having earned a move from Ligue 2 side Tours back in 2016.
The potential addition of the 24-year-old caused one supporter to claim that he is probably better than Marvelous, stating he is a good player with another saying Villa would be signing him purely for the income he could generate from his name on the back of their shirt.
You can read the best of the reaction below:
He's a good player, dare I say, probably better than Marvelous.
— Gregg Lowrie (@Deotron) July 29, 2019
He’s just being bought for the income from his surname on shirts alone ????
— Futurefilm (@futurefilm1) July 29, 2019
No more midfielders and defenders we need another striker and a goalkeeper then start shipping some players out
— Dave (@5AVFCdave5) July 29, 2019
Sign all the midfielders so there is none left for other clubs ……. great thinking…….. pic.twitter.com/V0HoSna9ty
— AVFC_UTV (@UpTheVilla_AVFC) July 29, 2019
Nakamba deal must of fell through then because that’s the only reason I can think of for this deal to happen
— Egg1920 (@egg1920) July 29, 2019
I doubt we really need more midfielders..
— ???????? (@RHUTV170) July 29, 2019
Announce premier league champions!!!
— neil stynes (@neilstynes) July 29, 2019
People saying this means Nakamba deal is off but we need depth in our midfield and let’s face it is BB or Lansbury gonna get game time in the prem? Grealish McGinn, Luiz, Nakamba Santamaria is a healthy midfield with depth and means players can be rested in some games #AVFC https://t.co/ZkCe0C4nFN
— Aaron Bourne (@Bourney1994) July 29, 2019