Aston Villa are interested in bringing Moise Kean back to England, which would make the Juventus striker just the Villans’ eighth signing from Serie A during the Premier League-era.
Steven Gerrard is seeking to strengthen his attacking options in the summer after retaining Robin Olsen as Emiliano Martinez’s backup. The Birmingham club paid Roma €3.5m (£3m) to keep the Sweden goalkeeper, who had spent the prior five months at Villa Park on loan.
Olsen became Aston Villa’s fourth signing of the summer so far, having also signed Seville’s Diego Carlos for £26m, Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho for £17m and Boubacar Kamara in a free transfer ahead of the holding midfielder’s contract with Marseille expiring on June 30.
Aston Villa interested in Moise Kean as Juventus explore Douglas Luiz swap deal
Now, Gerrard is eying another forward to supplement Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings at Villa Park going forward. CalcioMercatoWeb report Aston Villa are interested in former Everton striker Kean, and have contacted Juventus to seek further information over his availability.
Kean returned to Turin last summer in a two-year loan deal that carries a £24m obligation to buy in 2023. But Bianconeri chiefs are already looking to move the Italian on as he failed to convince Massimiliano Allegri, having only scored six goals in 44 appearances this term.
Juventus may now seize on Aston Villa’s interest in Kean to buy midfielder Douglas Luiz, as well. The Serie A side appreciate the Brazilian and believe the midfielder would more than comfortably suit Allegri’s system should he move to the Allianz Stadium during the market.
But Aston Villa have set a €30m (£25.5m) minimum valuation on Luiz, which could prove to be troublesome for Juventus. Talks between the clubs are set to continue over the coming weeks. Although Il Bianco Nero also note Juventus have spoken with West Ham over Kean.
Gerrard edging David Moyes’ interest for Aston Villa to sign Kean would make the Juventus striker the Villan’s eighth signing from Serie A in the Premier League-era. So, how have the Villans’ previous imports from the Italian top-flight gone on to fare whilst in Birmingham?
Moise Kean would hope for more than Robin Olsen amid Aston Villa interest
Kean would likely hope for more at Villa Park than Olsen has so far enjoyed since the shot-stopper joined Aston Villa on an initial loan from Roma during January. The 32-year-old has only featured once for the Villans so far, starting their final day 3-2 loss at Manchester City.
Ashley Young made Premier League return after Serie A jaunt with Inter Milan
Ashley Young returned to the Premier League with Aston Villa in 2021 after a title-winning jaunt in Serie A with Inter Milan. The midfielder spent 18-months at the San Siro following his departure from Manchester United in January 2020, and also amassed 59 appearances.
He has since taken his tally of appearances with Aston Villa to 215 in all competitions after a previous spell in claret-and-blue from 2007 to 2011. Young’s return to Birmingham under Dean Smith last June returned 25 appearances this season, with 24 in the Premier League.
Pepe Reina enjoyed brief Villa Park stay but rarely enjoyed a winning feeling
Pepe Reina enjoyed a brief stay at Villa Park on loan from AC Milan during the latter half of the 2019/20 campaign. But the Spanish shot-stopper rarely enjoyed a winning feeling over 12 appearances, all in the league, with the Villans losing six to three wins and three draws.
Moise Kean will hope for better Aston Villa career than Pierluigi Gollini
Pierluigi Gollini spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur from Atalanta but will return to Italy this summer. The goalkeeper only made 10 appearances and not once in the top-flight at Spurs, instead resigned to games mostly in the Europa Conference League.
Aston Villa were more forthcoming with chances for the 27-year-old during his time at Villa Park. But after a £4.25m move from Hellas Verona in July 2016, the Villans cut him loose in January 2017 after 20 outings, with a loan with Atalanta the Serie A side made permanent.
Libor Kozak now in Hungarian top-flight after four year Aston Villa spell
Libor Kozak is now plying his trade in the Hungarian top-flight with Puskas AFC six years on from leaving Aston Villa. The forward spent four years in claret-and-blue after joining from Lazio in 2013, during which he managed just four goals over 22 games before joining Bari.
Martin Laursen retired following five years at Villa Park after leaving AC Milan
Martin Laursen ended his career in 2009 following five years at Villa Park, after joining the Birmingham natives from AC Milan. The 53-cap Denmark centre-back had never previously played in England before Aston Villa, with whom he featured 91 times and scored 11 goals.
Gustavo Bartelt enraged John Gregory during loan from Roma in 2000
Gustavo Bartelt enraged former Aston Villa manager John Gregory during his loan transfer from Roma in 2000. The Villans had signed the centre-forward that February as cover for the injured Dion Dublin. But the Argentinian never made a single appearance for the club.
Gregory took particular issue with Bartelt for his attitude and often left the attacker with the reserves, when not in the treatment room. He would later join Rayo Vallecano on loan in 2001, before returning to Argentina with Gimnasia then Atletico All Boys before retiring.
“He is going back to Roma when his loan spell is over; if not before,” Gregory said, via Sky Sports, at the time. “He has really disappointed me – he hasn’t quite done what I thought he would. I think he came here and treated it like a holiday; certainly for the first month.”
Gerrard will hope Kean is not a repeat of Bartelt with Aston Villa, amid his interest in the Juventus striker who had a troubled time with Everton. The Italian left the Bianconeri for Goodison Park in a £25m transfer in 2019, but only scored four goals in 39 appearances.