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Villa ready to splash cash for Butland
Newly promoted Aston Villa are prepared to spend up to £20 million to secure the services of Jack Butland, reports The Sun.
Villa join the race for the popular stopper, who has also been earning admiring glances from the likes of Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.
Stoke City value their man at nearer £25m, a figure that has put off some potential suitors, but Villa boss Dean Smith is keen to start the new season with a top-class keeper with Premier League experience.
Villa’s owners have the spending power to afford Butland, while the keeper himself would be keen on a move in an effort to reignite his England career.
Everton hoping to secure Dakonam
Everton and Arsenal are both in the running for highly rated Getafe defender Djene Dakonam, but the Toffees look to have the edge when it comes to winning the player’s signature, writes the Daily Mail.
Dakonam starred as Getafe finished fifth in La Liga, and Everton boss Marco Silva is looking to reinforce his defensive ranks, particularly as he faces the threat of losing loanee Kurt Zouma.
Twenty-seven-year-old Dakonam is likely to cost the Merseysiders around £30 million, a figure that could prove too much for Arsenal and their seemingly limited war chest. The Gunners look set to spend well under £100m this summer, and so they’ll need to shop smart in an effort to improve their squad.
Silva, on the other hand, looks set to be well backed as the Blues hierarchy look to challenge for a European place.
Spurs may go in for Marseille’s Sakai
Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing Marseille right-back Hiroki Sakai, according to Sky Sports, although the London side may have concerns about the Japanese star’s age.
Sakai, 29, could be seen as a suitable replacement should they move on from Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier. Nonetheless, Mauricio Pochettino may prefer a younger reinforcement.
The former Hannover 96 man has been to two World Cups for Japan, and joined Marseille in 2016.
Tap ins
– Arsenal are still looking to replace Aaron Ramsey, and Unai Emery has decided that Fiorentina star Jordan Veretout could fit the bill. The 26-year-old is looking for a move this summer and though heavily linked with Napoli, his agent has admitted that his client is still considering options both in Italy and abroad.
– Maurizio Sarri‘s Chelsea exit could be confirmed this week, with one Chelsea shareholder saying farewell to the Italian boss via his Instagram account. Sarri has been linked with a move away from London form some time, and even Chelsea’s Europa League win doesn’t seem to have altered the club’s plans. Hasan Nagoor’s social media post is the latest hint that Sarri is set for a return to Italy.