Aston Villa are considering joining the race to sign one of the promising stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup is heading towards the end of the round of 32. Several teams have already exited the tournament. One of them is Bosnia and Herzegovina. They were unable to get past co-hosts the United States, suffering a 2-0 defeat despite having a one-man advantage following a USMNT red card.
Their elimination does not mean their young talents have gone unnoticed by Europe’s top clubs. According to a report by Sport Witness, one player has become a target for several clubs this summer, including Aston Villa.
“Kerim Alajbegovic is a target for clubs in England and Italy and Aston Villa are in the picture for his signature.”
He is the second Bosnian on Villa’s transfer shortlist. Previously, The Lions were eyeing Tarik Muharemovic, Sassuolo’s defender, who is reportedly edging closer to a move to Juventus.
Alajbegovic is a versatile Bosnian midfielder who has stolen the spotlight at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He featured in all four games and scored once against Qatar, helping his nation progress to the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Last season, he played for RB Salzburg, contributing 13 goals and four assists in 44 appearances across all competitions. One of his standout performances came in a 3-1 home win over Basel, when the 18-year-old winger scored twice.
At the World Cup, according to FotMob data, his xG stands at 0.24 while his xA is 0.31. His pass completion rate is 77.2%, while his accurate long-ball percentage is 33.3%. He has created four chances, including one big chance. One of those came in the last outing against the USMNT, although his effort from the left flank flew wide. Meanwhile, his successful dribble rate has reached 58.8%, while his duel success rate stands at 43.2%. His defensive contribution has also been solid, with two interceptions and three clearances.
Interestingly, the Cologne-born midfielder has just signed for Bayer Leverkusen this month. His move was already confirmed last March. He returned to the club where he was part of the youth academy from 2021 to 2025 before moving to the Austrian giants.
Alajbegovic is under contract until the summer of 2031. However, that has not stopped several clubs from showing interest, at least with a view to a move in the winter transfer window. Aston Villa and Atalanta are not the only potential suitors interested in the Bosnian. Sunderland, Newcastle United, and AS Roma have also been keeping tabs on him. In fact, The Black Cats and the Italian giants have already held formal talks regarding the player.
He is currently valued at around £19 million, although his price tag would almost certainly rise should Leverkusen become willing to sell him after signing him only this month. It will be interesting to see whether Unai Emery’s men continue to pursue him this summer or wait until next winter.
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