Prem survival could see big move for Benrahma
ASTON Villa will reportedly make another move to sign Brentford star Said Benrahma if they preserve their Premier League status.
Benrahma was a top target for Villa last summer but the club were unable to meet Brentford’s £20 million asking price.
The Algerian, 24, has continued to shine in the Championship with another 10 goals and seven assists in 30 starts for the Bees this season.
He’s been key to Brentford’s surge into the play-offs with nine games to go. And, according to The Athletic, Villa will return for Benrahma if they avoid relegation to the Championship.
Dean Smith remains a huge fan of Benrahma and Villa expect to have funds available to spend if they stay up.
There’s a big possibility that Jack Grealish will move on with the likes of Manchester United chasing his signature and Smith could ask for some of the money from his sale to be reinvested in Benrahma.
Benrahma’s value is set to increase after another stellar season with Brentford, meaning Villa could be forced to break their transfer record of £22million, which they spent on Brazilian forward Wesley last year. Meanwhile, Dean Smith has included Aaron Ramsey and Louie Barry in his first-team training plans as Aston Villa prepare for the return of the Premier League, writes Joseph Chapman.
Teenage midfielder Ramsey is among a number of promising players from the Villa youth set-up that Smith is keeping an eye on with top flight action around the corner. Barry, who arrived from Barcelona earlier this included.
The Lions are battling relegation without centre forward Wesley Moraes and goalkeeper Tom Heaton, but midfielder John McGinn and forward Keinan Davis are back in training and will be ready to feature if and when they’re called upon.
But Smith is taking an interest in the next generation of Villans who
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also being are hoping to make a splash in the first-team picture in the coming months and years, and has included them in training at Bodymoor Heath ahead of the curtain raiser with Sheffield United next Wednesday.
Ramsey is a central midfielder and is the brother of fellow Villan and Doncaster Rovers loanee Jacob, with a third Ramsey also in the academy. Aaron made three appearances in the Under-18 Premier League last season, and scored six goals in 16 appearances in all competitions this term at the same level, prior to the curtailing of the campaign.
As well as Ramsey and Barry, Tyreik Wright, Mungo Bridge, Jack Clarke and Kaine Kesler have all been partaking in first-team training with the likes of Jack Grealish, Tyrone Mings and Mbwana Samatta.