Report: Aston Villa now make contact over signing ‘very strong’ defender, Gerrard has already scouted him

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Aston Villa have contacted Marseille and Croatia defender Duje Caleta-Car, according to Jeunes Footeux.

The report suggests that Caleta-Car is in contact with a host of clubs across Europe, including Inter Milan and Sevilla, as Marseille look to sell the centre-back for £9.2m.

Aston Villa are potentially in the market for a centre-back after exciting new signing Diego Carlos picked up a serious knee injury in their 2-1 win against Everton on Saturday.

Villa are also planning on letting Kortney Hause leave the club this summer, which would leave Steven Gerrard with only three first team centre-backs to choose from.

Gerrard will already be well aware of Caleta-Car, having already personally scouted the 25-year-old this summer.

Marseille are looking to sell Caleta-Car and forward Bamba Dieng to recoup some of the transfer fees they’ve spent this summer, with Everton keen on the Senegalese forward.

Aston Villa make contact with Caleta-Car

Aston Villa’s centre-backs have dominated headlines at the start of this season.

Gerrard’s decision to strip Tyrone Mings of the captaincy meant all eyes were on his first starting line-up of the season, and the England international was left on the bench.

He returned at the weekend to partner Diego Carlos, but the Brazilian’s knee injury means Gerrard will have to field a third different partnership in their next match against Crystal Palace.

Caleta-Car’s strengths lie in his ball-playing ability, with the Croatian international one of the best passers in Europe last season among centre-backs.

Normally deployed by Marseille as the left-sided central defender in a back two because of his ability on the ball, Caleta-Car is naturally right-footed and that versatility will appeal to Gerrard.

Praised by his former international teammate Dejan Lovren as ‘physically very strong’ and someone who ‘could easily play in England’, Caleta-Car has reportedly already ‘packed his bags’ to join former teammate Boubacar Kamara at Aston Villa.