Aston Villa are eyeing a new target from a Serie A side for their summer transfer business.
Aston Villa appear to be looking for a new target who is not playing at the World Cup to avoid a potential immediate increase in asking price, transfer demand, and, obviously, the number of contenders in the race.
After approaching Emerson Royal, the Brazilian right-back who did not make the World Cup squad, they are now making enquiries about a versatile forward from an Italian outfit who is also not playing in the tournament. He is another Serie A star on Villa’s radar after Canada skipper Jonathan David and Como’s Martin Baturina.
According to a report from Fiorentina Uno, via Sport Witness, The Lions are one of two Premier League sides interested in the Fiorentina striker.
“Aston Villa and Bournemouth have made enquiries for the Icelandic international, Albert Gudmundsson, in the last few hours.”
Gudmundsson joined La Viola permanently last summer after a loan spell from Genoa. The Florence side paid £13.80 million for his move and tied him to a contract until 2029. That puts them firmly in control of any negotiations. The potential asking price for any suitors could reach around £26 million, which is still affordable for Premier League clubs.
Aston Villa and Bournemouth are not the only potential suitors for the 29-year-old forward. Atalanta and Juventus are also keeping tabs on him. The former are in the process of rebuilding their squad under Maurizio Sarri, while the latter are looking to revamp their attack as they are ready to part ways with Dusan Vlahovic and Jonathan David following their disappointing form.
Gudmundsson has made 79 appearances for La Viola since arriving in Florence on loan during the 2024/25 season. He has registered 18 goals and nine assists in all competitions.
The former PSV and Genoa man is versatile. His main position is as a second striker or a number 10, but he can also lead the line, operate on either wing, and even play in a deeper central midfield role.
The Icelandic forward has also become accustomed to making the difference in big games. Last season, he provided an assist as Fiorentina held AC Milan to a 1-1 draw. Earlier, he scored in a 2-2 draw with Lazio.
During the 2024/25 season, the forward with 46 international caps scored a brace on his Serie A debut for La Viola in a 2-1 win over Lazio. He also scored in a 2-1 victory over AC Milan and added another goal as his side cruised to a 3-0 win against Juventus.
Based on the data from FotMob, his xG is 5.58 and his xA is 2.40. His successful passing rate is 86.8%, while his accurate long-ball percentage stands at 67.4%. His successful dribble rate is as high as 51.3%. His duel-winning percentage may not be particularly high at only 35.3%, but his defensive contribution is solid, with three blocked shots, 14 clearances, and eight tackles.
Gudmundsson appears to be the ideal player Emery is looking for, especially if Morgan Rogers leaves this summer. Despite his age, he still has plenty to offer with his versatility and experience in continental competition.
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