Aston Villa are reportedly targeting Manchester City’s on-loan central midfielder Aaron Mooy this summer as the Lions look to come back stronger next season after a disappointing finish to the current one. Steve Bruce started the season strongly bringing in as many as seven players last summer, most of the fee remaining undisclosed, but the Villans managed to finish only at the 13th place in the league table.
The side is reportedly looking at different managerial options next season with Sunderland’s David Moyes a candidate. Since demoting to the Championship three years back, the Clarets and Blues haven’t found a way back to the top-flight, despite a new owner taking over the side and making fresh changes.
Bruce was in fact, given enough money and freedom in daily matters of the club, and although the Chinese owner had the final say, he hardly interrupted the proceedings. That decision didn’t bode well this season and it is time the side gets ready to axe of its long-serving players. Villa need to bring in individuals who are proven in the second-tier English football and Mooy fits the bill well.
The 26-year-old has had a decent season in the Championship with Huddersfield Town so far taking the club to the Championship play-off final against Reading FC at the end of the month. He has scored four goals and seven assists for them in 45 league appearances.
With Pep Guardiola looking to bring in a host of fresh players this summer, most of whom are expected to be young, Moor’s first-team chances at Etihad are slim. The player seems quite aware of it though he didn’t state it up front. In a recent interview, he said, “I’m not thinking about next season at all – there’s too much to play for at the minute. I am sure once it’s all finished I will speak to Manchester City and we’ll decide my position.”
A permanent move to Town is a real possibility as City won’t sweat much over which side to sell him. And given Town’s boss, David Wagner’s admiration for the midfielder, he is most likely going to try for that deal. A holding midfielder, the Australian international can also play as an effective number 10 and if Town manages to get promoted, Mooy is an essential ingredient to the side. Aston Villa will face stiff competition from Wolves in landing him, which is if Town doesn’t get promoted. City have rated the player at £10 million, and a player of his quality is worth it.
However, Villa is reportedly giving Bruce just £1 million for summer signings. Middlesbrough’s relegation from the Premier League finished any chances of extra cash that the club could have got from add-ons included in Rudy Gestede and Adama Traore’s sale last summer.
