September 19, 2024

Transfer rumours: Ramsey to Burnley, Digne to Al-Hilal, Asllani to Brighton

Transfer rumours: Ramsey to Burnley, Digne to Al-Hilal, Asllani to Brighton

Burnley and Aston Villa are reportedly in advanced negotiations over a deal to bring midfielder Aaron Ramsey to Turf Moor.

The 20-year-old enjoyed two productive loan spells with Norwich City and Middlesbrough in the 2022-23 campaign, netting three goals and setting up three more in 18 games for the Canaries.

Ramsey subsequently came up with five goals and one assist for Middlesbrough in the second half of the Championship campaign, but he has not made a Premier League appearance for Unai Emery‘s side.

According to The Athletic, Burnley are now closing in on the signing of the England Under-20 international, who will arrive at Turf Moor in a £12m deal.

Ramsey’s proposed move to the Premier League new boys will see him bring an end to his lengthy association with Villa, whom he joined as an Under-9s player alongside brother Jacob Ramsey.

The midfielder won the FA Youth Cup with the Lions in the 2020-21 season and made his only first-team appearance to date in a 6-0 EFL Cup second-round thrashing of Barrow in August 2021.

Sticking with the theme of players potentially leaving Villa Park, French left-back Lucas Digne is reportedly on the radar of Al-Hilal.

The former Everton man faced increased competition for starts last term following the signing of Alex Moreno and featured from the first whistle in just 18 Premier League games.

Digne still has three years left to run on his contract with the Europa Conference League participants, but according to the Daily Mail, he could soon become the latest high-profile name to swap Europe for the Saudi Pro League.

Digne has supposedly been informed by Emery that he will not be a regular starter in the 2023-24 campaign, and Villa are open to appropriate bids for the France international.

Al-Hilal are said to be pursuing a £25m deal for Digne, who was also on the radar of Napoli before the Italian champions dropped their interest due to his extortionate wages.

Digne has two goals and four assists under his belt from 47 games in a Villa shirt since leaving Everton in January 2022, prior to which he represented Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma and Lille.

Kristjan Asllani in action for Inter Milan in October 2022

Further south, Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly interested in a deal for Inter Milan lynchpin Kristjan Asllani.

The Albania international spent the 2022-23 season on loan at San Siro from Empoli and made 29 appearances as Simone Inzaghi‘s side reached the Champions League and Coppa Italia finals while winning the Supercoppa Italiana.

Asllani only made five Serie A starts and played just six minutes across the three aforementioned finals, but the Nerazzurri nevertheless made his move permanent for €10m (£8.6m).

Asllani’s time in Milan could come to a swift end, though, as Tuttomercatoweb claims that Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is determined to bring the 22-year-old to the Amex.

However, the report adds that it would take a significant offer for Inter to consider a sale so soon, as the Nerazzurri have already lost Marcelo Brozovic to Al-Nassr this summer.

Asllani’s contract with Inter runs until the end of the 2026-27 season, and the 2002-born lynchpin has made 10 appearances for the Albania national team.

England Under-21's Taylor Harwood-Bellis pictured during the warm up on November 11, 2021

Finally, Leeds United have reportedly identified Liverpool‘s Nat Phillips and Manchester City‘s Taylor Harwood-Bellis as two prime defensive targets for the remainder of the summer window.

Following their relegation from the Premier League last season, the Whites have loaned out Diego LlorenteMaximilian Wober and Robin Koch to Roma, Borussia Monchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.

Daniel Farke‘s side have brought in Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea on a permanent deal, but they remain noticeably short of numbers in the heart of defence.

According to Football Insider, Leeds are now hoping to lure both of Harwood-Bellis and Phillips to Elland Road, as both men should be allowed to leave their current clubs in the coming weeks.

Harwood-Bellis captained England to Under-21 Euros glory after helping Burnley win promotion to the Premier League last season, and he has also been linked with Fulham and West Ham United.

Meanwhile, Phillips was a crucial player for Liverpool in their injury-hit 2020-21 campaign, but he made just four first-team appearances last season.

 

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