Aston Villa have been sent a firm no by Benfica over a possible transfer for midfielder Fredrik Aursnes this summer, according to reports in Portugal.
The 27-year-old is a key player for the Champions League side, making a total of 44 appearances in all competitions last season. He has a contract until 2027, putting Benfica in a strong position over his future.
According to Record (via SportWitness ), Villa have made contact with the club over the possibility of signing Aursnes this summer. Benfica were however reluctant to engage in any talks.
It is said that the club instead pointed to the player’s €50m release clause as the only way that they will sell in the current transfer window. The report adds that a move away from Benfica this window is ‘out of the question’.
The Portuguese club are now also said to have opened talks over a new deal for the player in order to insert a higher release clause in his contract. Should that happen it would make any potential move to Villa Park even more difficult to complete.
Unai Emery and Villa will be active in the transfer window and have already added to their midfield options. Belgium international Youri Tielemans will officially join the club at the start of next month when his contract with Leicester City expires.
He will join Boubacar Kamars, Leander Dendoncker, Marvelous Nakamba, Jacob Ramsey, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn and Tim Iroegbunam as Villa’s central midfield options. There is however doubts around the future of the likes of Decdocker and Nakamba and Iroegbunam.
The latter two spent last season on loan in the Championship with Luton said to be keen on making Nakamba’s move permanent this summer.
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