Aston Villa are making waves in the transfer market once again as they eye up moves for Manchester City duo Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker. The Midlands club are reportedly preparing to back manager Unai Emery with a “huge” summer transfer budget as they look to build on their impressive run of form in the Premier League.
Phillips has long been linked with a move to Villa Park, with the club first showing interest back in 2019. The England international midfielder has endured a frustrating first season at Manchester City, playing just 405 minutes of football all season. However, Phillips is still highly regarded and Villa chiefs are reportedly long-term admirers of his talents.
Meanwhile, Walker is a familiar face to Villa fans, having spent time on loan at the club earlier in his career. The right-back has plenty of experience at the highest level for club and country and could be a shrewd addition to Emery’s squad. However, he has fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola, starting just 15 league games this season.
Villa have reportedly held internal discussions over a potential double bid for the Manchester City pair, with a bid in the region of £55m said to be enough to tempt the Premier League champions. It remains to be seen whether the Midlands club will pull off the ambitious move, but it’s certainly one to keep an eye on over the coming months.
With Matty Cash and Ashley Young currently the right-back options at Villa Park, a move for Walker could be a smart move by Emery. Phillips, on the other hand, would be a huge gamble given his lack of playing time this season. However, Villa’s long-term admiration of the midfielder suggests that they believe he could still make a big impact in the Premier League.
