Nakamba’s stance is Marvelous!

VILLA midfielder Marvelous Nakamba is ready to snub a potential move away from the club. Nakamba, who joined Villa a year ago from Club Brugge for £10 million, has been linked with a transfer to Turkey, with Super Lig sides Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce revealed as possible destinations. The Zimbabwean appeared in 29 of Villa’s 38 Premier League games last season and it is understood he is ready to commit himself to the Villa cause and turn down interest – and a starting role – from elsewhere.

Eddie Newton’s Trabzonspor were believed to be preparing a loan bid for Nakamba as a replacement for John Obi Mikel, who is set to seal a move to Stoke.

Keinan Davis is also believed to be staying at Villa for the time being amid links with a move to Preston – but it is understood he could leave on loan before the transfer window closes.

The 22-year-old striker, who is under contract until 2021, is highly regarded at Villa Park and made 18 appearances in the Premier League last season. He was used mainly as a sub by Dean Smith, however, and his chances of becoming a regular starter are thought to be slim as Villa aim to build on their first season back in the top flight. Meanwhile, Smith appears to have been dealt a major blow in his pursuit of Milot Rashica, who is said to be reluctant about joining Villa.

The head coach has been tracking the 24-year-old Werder Bremen winger for several months, having first looked at the Kosovo international ahead of the January transfer window.

And Villa looked to have been given a boost when it was reported RB Leipzig were refusing to match Bremen’s asking price.

But sources in Germany now claim Rashica is not interested in moving to Villa Park amid fears of being involved in a relegation battle. “Villa should be ready to dig deep into their pockets for Rashica. But the striker doesn’t play along. For him, a move to the Premier League is quite interesting, but not to a club that, like Werder, has just managed to stay in the league,” they said.