TRANSFER SHOCKER: ASTON VILLA HAS SIGNED BARCELONA GREAT PLAYER AHEAD OF MANCHESTER CITY AND LIVERPOOL THIS SUMMER MEDICAL DONE €190M RATED

TRANSFER SHOCKER: ASTON VILLA HAS SIGNED BARCELONA GREAT PLAYER AHEAD OF MANCHESTER CITY AND LIVERPOOL THIS SUMMER MEDICAL DONE €190M RATED

Marcos Acuna is reportedly keen on a move to Aston Villa having been linked with joining us this week to strengthen our left-back options.

The 31-year-old is an experienced player with pedigree at the top level for club and country, having also been a key member of the Argentina squad that won the World Cup last year.

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With his technical ability, tenacity and defensive strengths, he could be a smart addition to fit into Unai Emery’s system and style of play, and particularly if a void needs to be filled in the coming weeks.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Villa hold a ‘genuine interest’ in the Sevilla defender who is on our transfer shortlist, but there is no agreement as of yet with the La Liga side over a fee. He does add though that Acuna himself is keen on the move to join us and so time will tell if a switch materialises.

Romano also reports that Lucas Digne is a target for clubs in both Saudi Arabia and Europe, and so should the Frenchman depart this month, that would certainly make the need for another left-back a priority.

Alex Moreno established himself as first choice under Emery last season having impressed since his January move from Real Betis, and he will likely return to the Villa XI once he’s made a full recovery from injury, which is expected to be either at the end of this month or early September.

However, while Digne has filled in during his absence, he also offers good competition and depth in that role, and so if he were to leave, then he would absolutely need to be replaced, and so that appears to be where Acuna comes into play.

Given it’s all speculation at the moment with no suggestion of any agreements either on incomings or outgoings, it remains to be seen how the situation plays out. Nevertheless, it certainly sounds as though Villa could be active in the latter stages of the window, and while there are other areas to consider, the left-back position could be a spot that could be addressed too.

 Tagged Lucas Digne, Marcos Acuna

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Left-back discarded by Aston Villa boss Unai Emery completes another transfer

Former Aston Villa loanee Ludwig Augustinsson has joined Anderlecht on loan, his third move in a year

Ludwig Augustinsson during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park

On the move again… former Villa loanee Ludwig Augustinsson

Former Aston Villa full-back Ludwig Augustinsson has completed another departure from La Liga side Sevilla this summer and has signed for Belgian side RSC Anderlecht on a season-long loan deal.

Augustinsson, 29, joined Villa last summer under Steven Gerrard as cover and competition for Lucas Digne after Matt Targett departed permanently for Newcastle United, but his loan spell was swiftly cut short in January when Unai Emery first had the opportunity to address the squad he’d inherited.

Emery recruited Alex Moreno to compete with Digne and cut short the loans of Augustinsson and Jan Bednarek of Southampton, while moving out the likes of Danny Ings, Morgan Sanson and Frederic Guilbert. Augustinsson played just three Premier League games in a loan spell which wasn’t helped by an injury he sustained last October.

The Swedish international, who has more than 50 caps for his country, was immediately loaned out to Real Mallorca in the second half of last season, but he encountered similar problems that he had at Villa Park and played just four league games.

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For the third time in the space of 12 months, though, Augustinsson has left Sevilla on loan and has joined Anderlecht, who finished 11th in the Belgian top flight last season. Augustinsson will play this year with Tottenham and Belgium legend Jan Vertonghen.

“Ludwig is an experienced full back that has played in nearly all the big leagues,” Anderlecht said. “His addition to the squad will increase the competition. He’s ready to have a direct impact on the pitch, but he’ll also put his experience to good use off the pitch by guiding some of our young talents like Moussa N’Diaye.”