The £22m transfer battle which could see Tottenham and Aston Villa face off this summer
Aston Villa and Tottenham are reported to be interested in a highly-rated midfielder that could represent Belgium at the upcoming World Cup.
Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are once again expected to be in the market for midfield reinforcements in the summer.
Villa took a gamble by re-signing fan favourite Douglas Luiz on a loan deal with an option to buy, but have been short on options in the middle of the park after losing Boubacar Kamara to a season-ending injury - and Youri Tielemans and John McGinn, too, albeit on a slightly more short-term basis.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are stacked with options in the middle of the park such as Pape Matar Sarr, new signing Conor Gallagher, loanee Joao Palhinha (whose deal includes an option to buy), Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray and Yves Bissouma. However, Tottenham are in the process of yet another rebuild after their decision to sack Thomas Frank and are likely to name a successor that will have their own ideas on what they want in the middle of the park, with at least one or two of the current crop likely to leave.
Tottenham and Aston Villa could be involved in £22m midfield battle
According to Parma Today, Tottenham and Aston Villa have set their sights on Serie A wonderkid Mandela Keita.
The 23-year-old is a talented defensive midfielder who has established himself as a first team regular for Parma after joining from Royal Antwerp in 2024 after winning the league and cup double in Belgium two years earlier.
Keita has started 22 matches in total this season and has impressed for a Parma side that sit 14th in the table having established themselves as a steady top-flight outfit once again after years of financial difficulties and a huge decline.
Tottenham have reportedly sent scouts to watch Keita in action several times this season, while Villa are thought to have joined the race as they prepare for the prospect of potentially competing in Europe’s elite competition again this season after narrowly missing out in the 2024/25 campaign on goal difference.
Keita is believed to be growing in prominence at a rapid rate, with sources currently giving him a minimum value of around £22m. It’s worth also mentioning that Brighton were linked with the player as a possible successor to Carlos Baleba during the January transfer window, meaning it’s a saga they could revisit if the Cameroonian does depart.
Which club is most likely to sign Keita?
When it comes down to the project on offer, Aston Villa could be the best club for Keita based on the fact they are extremely likely to qualify for the Champions League again, plus the added incentive of working with Unai Emery, who has long been regarded as one of Europe’s elite coaches.
Villa’s chance of signing Keita could depend on how Luiz fares in his second spell at Aston Villa. Luiz was one of the club’s best players for around five years when he last played in the West Midlands but has struggled with fitness issues and form at both Juventus and Nottingham Forest over the last 18 months.
Tottenham are stacked with midfield options, but despite their poor form, are blessed with some of the best facilities and stadium that the country has to offer, plus the potential to compete at the highest level if the new manager can get them firing on all cylinders.
Brighton offer something different to the other two clubs mentioned. They are unlikely to be in Europe next season, but do boast an excellent track record for unearthing young talent, harnessing their potential and on occasion selling them on for massive profit as seen with Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro among others in the past.
They could offer Keita regular first team exposure and the potential to be a central figure almost straightaway, particularly if Baleba was to move on to pastures new.