By Graham Hill
VILLA’S reported interest in Juventus keeper Mattia Perin is gathering pace in Italy.
But the player’s history of injury problems may scupper a deal.
Dean Smith’s search for a new No1 is threatening to go down to the wire after refusing to meet the valuations for top targets Jack Butland, Neil Etheridge and Tom Heaton.
Now, Turin newspaper Tuttosport says Villa’s interest in Perin has ‘developed in recent hours’, they ‘have expressed interest’ and the player is keen to move.
Perin wants regular football ahead of Italy’s Euro 2020 canpaign.
But Villa will need to do their homework as a planned move to Benfica broke down, reportedly over a failed medical.
Juve are believed to want around £13million for the player – but the suggestion is that, due to the player’s fitness concerns, a loan would be the most likely solution.
Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici is in London for a transfer ‘blitz’, which means he is to sell players to Premier League clubs, and Tuttosport say Aston Villa want to take advantage of the situation.
But it is also reported that Villa want an ‘in depth’ report on the player’s injury worries.
Four years ago, Perin suffered a shoulder injury which kept him out until the following October. Then in 2016 he ruptured a cruciate ligament, and suffered the same injury the following year 2017.
Villa Roar 