Aston Villa set to make £25m transfer move for striker Habib Diarra – but Chelsea chiefs will have final say
Aston Villa could be facing a bidding war with other Premier League clubs
FIRST BIBS Aston Villa set to make £25m transfer move for striker Habib Diarra – but Chelsea chiefs will have final say
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
ASTON VILLA are making a fresh £25million move for Strasbourg's Senegal star Habib Diarra.
Villa have checked on the 21-year-old creative midfielder for the past few weeks after taking a huge interest last season.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
Aston Villa target Strasbourg star Habib Diarra but their bid could be affected by Chelsea
2
Diarra will be sold by the French club at the right price.
They have already turned down £15m from Eintracht Frankfurt but are open to a Premier League swoop.
Unai Emery plans to move around some of his squad and there could be space for a new No10 next season as they go for glory at home and abroad.
Everton and Nottingham Forest have also been watching Strasbourg games in Ligue 1 recently.
However, Villa's interest in the versatile midfielder is the strongest and most deep-rooted.
Nevertheless, Chelsea could play a role in the player's future as Strasbourg have the same owners as the Premier League giants with BlueCo in charge of the French outfit.
Diarra swapped from playing for France at Under-18 level to Senegal.
He has already won nine caps and is now ready for the next stage in his club career.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard's Coventry are leading the race to sign Villa right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden.
Sky Blues are willing to pay £5m plus extras for the academy product, who had a good season on loan in the Championship at Preston.
Villa will sell Kesler-Hayden, 22, as they trim their squad and the player knows his time at his first club is nearing an end.
Former youth team captain Kesler-Hayden, 22, has been on loan five times and managed three first-team appearances.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Tottenham's whopping cost to sack Ange Postecoglou ahead of imminent decision
Ange Postecoglou's future at Tottenham remains unclear despite the Australian having led the club to their first major trophy for 17 years, with Daniel Levy expected to make a decision this week It will cost Tottenham around £4million to sack Ange Postecoglou, having already handed the Australian a £2m bonus. Postecoglou led Spurs to their first major trophy for 17 years by winning the Europa League last month. It was also their first piece of European silverware since 1984. But it did come at a cost, with Spurs finishing 17th in the Premier League table, the club's lowest finish since being relegated from the top-flight in 1977. Postecoglou did have to deal with a succession of injury crises, but it was still a dreadful campaign on the domestic front for his side. That has seen the Australian's position as manager come under threat. A decision is expected to be made this week on his future in North London. It comes as Spurs continue major changes behind the scenes, with long-serving executive director Donna-Maria Cullen leaving the club as Vinai Venkatesham prepares to arrive as CEO. For now, the focus will remain on Postecoglou, though sacking him would likely prove to be an unpopular move among players and fans. It will also likely seriously hit the club's bank account. According to the Daily Telegraph, Postecoglou would be due £4m in compensation if he was sacked. That fee was agreed ahead of his appointment two years ago, with another two years to run on his contract. The payout would be on top of the £2m bonus already handed to him for winning the Europa League. Postecoglou has returned to England from his end-of-season holiday and is awaiting the verdict on his future. The total cost of replacing him could also balloon above the £10m mark should Spurs look to bring in a replacement who is already in a job. Postecoglou has seen trusted assistant Ryan Mason depart to take over as West Brom boss. But the Australian himself has insisted he is preparing to remain in his post for the start of the new season. He admitted that he felt it was ' weird ' to see the media openly discussing a potential sacking. "I'll be honest, I've been finding it really weird talking about my future when we've done something unprecedented," Postecoglou said after the final day thrashing at the hands of Brighton. "I've had to answer the questions because no one else at the club is kind of in the position to do so, I guess. But I can't answer that question about me and my future, and part of me is kind of thinking, well, why have I been asked that question? But it is what it is. "And I've got no doubt, though, that this could be a real sort of defining moment for this club because wherever I've been, I've kind of made an impact where I've brought success to a club that hasn't had for a while. "You just have to look at those clubs' trajectory even after I've left, they're still competing for things. I really think this is a moment in time where this club can really push on and be a real contender for honours on a yearly basis."
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Liverpool issue hands-off warning to Barcelona after Reds star is pursued by Spanish giants... but are braced for offers from Saudi Arabia
Liverpool have issued a hands-off warning to Barcelona after the Spanish champions tried to sign Luis Diaz — but the club are braced for more interest from Saudi Arabia. Catalan club Barca asked Liverpool if they would do business and were swiftly told he was not for sale, after Mail Sport reported their strong interest in our Liverpool Confidential column two months ago. But Liverpool are not actively looking to sell Diaz, 28, who yesterday said he was perfectly happy at Anfield. Talking while on international duty with Colombia, the winger said: 'We (Diaz and his camp) are waiting to arrange what is best for us. If Liverpool offers us a really good renewal or since I have two years left on my contract I will definitely stay there happy and content.' It is understood Liverpool see the matter as closed, although Saudi club Al Nassr are lurking in the background and could make a play in the coming weeks. Manchester City considered attempting to sign him last summer. There are no plans at Anfield to open new contract talks with Diaz, whose current deal takes him into his 30s. He joined from Porto in January 2022 and scored 17 goals this season. Barcelona are a particularly enticing prospect for South American players and several players such as Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho, and Xavier Mascherano have moved from Anfield. Diaz scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in 50 appearances as Liverpool won their second ever Premier League title last month. Meanwhile, his partner Gera Ponce posted an emotional message on Instagram which some fans had taken as a farewell message. On the other hand, it could just be interpreted as them insisting on their love for the club. 'From the first day we arrived, we felt first hand what it means to be a part of this club,' she wrote. 'We knew the slogan was "You'll Never Walk Alone", but to hear them sing it with so much passion, support us every moment and show such unconditional love... confirmed to us that here you never walk alone. 'This fan doesn't just support, it feels. And what you have made my boyfriend and our entire family feel is something we carry in our souls. 'Thank you for so much love, for so much dedication and for making us feel at home. Being part of this fan(base) is a privilege. There's no doubt: they're the best in the world. 'This is a real bond, deep and strong, that reaffirms that we'll never walk alone'. Speaking to Telemundo last month Diaz insisted he was happy at Anfield and relaxed about his contract situation. 'Yes, happy. From the first day I arrived, I've always been happy, calm, enjoying the football played at this great team. 'We'll be talking about it, we'll talk about it (about the renewal). For me, I would stay however many years it takes, it also depends on the club, everything. 'These are details that are sorted out separately. Very calm, I'm happy and enjoying the Premier League.'
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Sheffield Wednesday placed under transfer embargo by EFL as owner is accused of holding club ‘hostage'
Current Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri has rejected two proposals to buy the club WEDNESDAY WAGE WOE Sheffield Wednesday placed under transfer embargo by EFL as owner is accused of holding club 'hostage' SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY have been placed under a registration embargo for failure to pay wages on time. The Owls will be prevented from adding players to their squad for the 2025/26 Championship season due to multiple breaches of EFL regulations on payment obligations. Advertisement 3 Sheffield Wednesday players and staff have yet to be paid for May Credit: REX 3 The EFL have charged the Owls and owner Dejphon Chansiri with multiple breaches of regulations on payment obligations Credit: GETTY The club were charged this week after failing to pay both players and staff members their wages for May. The sanction has heaped yet more pressure on Owls owner Dejphon Chansiri, who has apologised profusely for the delayed wages, to sell the club. An American consortium is looking to buy the Yorkshire outfit but has had TWO PROPOSALS rejected by Thai tycoon Chansiri. Labour MP for Sheffield South East, Clive Betts, is leading the calls for Chansiri to sell, saying: "He must accept that he needs to sell Wednesday to prevent the complete collapse of the club. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 'STARSTRUCK' Grealish poses with unrecognisable Prem icon and calls him his 'boyhood hero' "We as fans deserve better. "It breaks my heart to see the club I have followed all my life being held hostage by an owner who clearly has no interest or care for us. "It is clear that Chansiri does not have the ability or resources to fund and invest in Sheffield Wednesday." Wednesday have vowed to pay players and staff as soon as possible. Advertisement JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 3 Sheffield Wednesday fans have repeatedly protested Dejphon Chansiri's ownership Credit: Getty A club statement read: "The club continue to seek a resolution regarding outstanding salaries due for the month of May at the earliest possible opportunity. "Mr Chansiri sincerely apologises to all players, coaches and staff affected and everyone connected with the club." Advertisement Former Premier League star, 39, sent off after 55 seconds for headbutting rival's BACK in EFL clash Chansiri's ten-year ownership of Wednesday has been filled with financial issues. The Yorkshire club were deducted six points in the 2021/21 season, in which they were relegated to League One, for breaching spending rules. And they were placed under registration embargoes in both the 2023/24 and 24/25 campaigns. Wednesday ended the 2024/25 Championship season in 12th place.
