Report: Villa looking to tempt French side with £10m-plus-Kalinic deal

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Croatian outlet tPortal have claimed that Aston Villa are looking to orchestrate a swap deal with French side Nantes, in a bid to sign highly-rated midfielder Valentin Rongier.

Rongier, 24, is a holding midfielder for Nantes. He is the current captain of the Ligue 1 side, and has become rated as one of the best midfielders in the division – even though he is yet to join a big side.

Villa need a central midfielder, after losing Glenn Whelan and Mile Jedinak this summer. Both central midfielders’ contracts expired at the end of this month, but Villa confirmed on their website that the duo would depart.

The Midlands club have seemingly failed to sign main target Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United, and have now been linked with a move for Rongier – who scored four goals and laid on another seven assists during 2018-19.

The latest report now claims that Villa can orchestrate a deal by securing a swap, something which they are indeed pursuing. Indeed, the report claims Nantes want goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic.

It is believed newly-promoted side Villa are to offer Kalinic and a fee of £10million to sign Rongier.

TBR’s view

Rongier would be an excellent signing for Dean Smith’s side, and offloading Kalinic – who has flopped – to help them land the midfielder is excellent business.

The midfielder is a superb ball player, able to pick a pass, and certainly more than capable of finding the back of the net from range. Leadership and plenty of experience at the top level, Rongier would be a superb Villa signing.