Aston Villa submit enquiry to sign 11-goal Newcastle and West Ham target

Villa have initiated talks with Juventus to sign Matias Soule, asking about the availability of the Argentine in a completely separate discussion to the Douglas Luiz exchange.

Unai Emery’s side are close to letting Luiz leave for Juve in a €25 million (£21 million) deal that will see Samuel Iling Junior and Enzo Barrenechea move in the other direction. Weston McKennie was set to be used for the transfer but the American’s awkward exit talks with Juve caused Barrenechea to be drafted in as a replacement.

Away from that negotiation, Villa want to keep discourse open with Juve. Sky Sports reports the Villans tried to add Soule to the Luiz deal but were stopped in their tracks, so a separate enquiry was made over the Argentina Under-23 international’s services.

It’s stated that Juve have rebuffed Villa’s advances, asserting their stance that Soule isn’t for sale. But Emery’s side are expected to keep knocking on the door in the hope that the Italian Serie A giants change their minds.

Newcastle and West Ham watching Soule

Fellow Premier League teams Newcastle and West Ham will be hoping Juve adjust their stance, too, as Soule is said to be on both of their shortlists. The 21-year-old, who plays predominantly as a right winger but can also feature inside as an attacking midfielder, seriously impressed on loan at Frosinone last season.

Soule scored 11 goals and made three assists in 36 Serie A appearances throughout 2023/24, building on from several promising cameo appearances for Juve the previous campaign. Frosinone were relegated on the final day, missing out on survival by just one point. The drop to Serie B means Soule certainly won’t rejoin for another year on loan.