AS Roma face a pressing need to sell players before the end-of-June cut-off for Serie A’s financial fair play regulations, and that situation has placed Matias Soule squarely in the transfer spotlight. According to Sport Witness and Il Messaggero, Aston Villa have made initial contact with the 23-year-old’s entourage, and Unai Emery’s side hold no intention of backing away from their pursuit. Bournemouth also registered interest, yet the Villans appear noticeably further ahead in that race.
Aston Villa move ahead as Soule’s Roma future unravels
Soule’s standing inside the Roma dressing room has shifted considerably in recent months. He once occupied a central role in Gian Piero Gasperini’s plans, but a frustrating run of muscle injuries and a goal drought stretching back to January has eroded that goodwill significantly.
Roma will evaluate offers for Soule, who may be sold this summer after fitness issues and no goals since January, with the club reportedly unwilling to offer discounts despite their financial situation. Roma currently value him at €35m, a figure they expect interested clubs to match rather than negotiate around. From the player’s side, a move to the Premier League carries genuine appeal, and Soule himself now waits in uncertainty, his future resting entirely on how seriously suitors pursue him.
Aston Villa could accelerate the deal as Malen funds arrive
Villa are looking to sell both Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand, with Malen completing a permanent move to Roma, which will help bring in funds to sign the 23-year-old Argentine attacker. That financial clarity gives Emery a genuine runway to act swiftly.
Is this the right call from Emery?
Frankly, yes, and the timing is very significant here. Villa’s interest in Soule could signal a shift towards a more youth-centred approach, something that will prove crucial as they look to build the next generation of stars, with the current squad not exactly being on the younger side. Emery has squeezed considerable quality from his inherited group, but that group ages each season without meaningful renewal at the top end.
Soule’s left-footed style, close control, and tendency to drift inside have drawn stylistic comparisons with Ángel Di María, exactly the type of profile that thrives inside Emery’s structured attacking system. Furthermore, the Italian club’s historically lower patience with young players in difficult form means Roma sell from a position of frustration rather than genuine belief in Soule’s decline.
Villa would essentially inherit a player who has more to prove and every reason to prove it. At €35m for a player with five years on his contract and clear upside, Aston Villa would be buying quality.
