Antonio Conte gives 'approval' to summer Aston Villa transfer after PSG deal
Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive brings you what is being said about a player who is currently on loan away from Villa Park
Napoli boss Antonio Conte is reportedly keen on a move for Aston Villa's Samuel Iling-Junior this summer.
The former Chelsea boss is eager to fill the void left by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was sold to Paris Saint-Germain in the last January window.
Conte wants a replacement and that has led him to Iling-Junior, who is currently on loan with Championship side Middlesbrough.
Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna is reportedly an admirer of the winger because of his versatility.
Via Sport Witness, journalist Emanuele Cammaroto told Radio Punto Nuovo: “A name that Manna likes is that of Iling-Junior that Manna launched to Juventus.
"He is a player that is liked, he can play on the right and left flank, so it is easy to understand Conte’s approval”,
Villa paid £14m for Junior last summer, which led to him being shipped out on loan to Bologna.
But that move was curtailed in February and he was then sent to Middlesbrough where he has made 10 league appearances and scored one goal.
The 21-year-old is set to return to Villa Park at the end of the season when his loan with the Championship outfit expires.
Iling-Junior has been impressive at Boro so far and he has been playing as a left-back, a role that Michael Carrick believes suits him.
"It's not as new as you might think," said Carrick, who first started Iling-Junior there at home to Queens Park Rangers in mid-March. "Even when I spoke to him about coming it was something he spoke about.
"He said he might end up becoming a left-back/left wing-back.
"I know in the first couple of games he played high on the right but he's played for England in a similar position – maybe not as deep as a left-back – and defended really well and he's got natural attributes to do that, a natural instinct to defend."