Aston Villa’s £40m transfer ‘lined up’ as club set to open key talks
Aston Villa are reportedly set to open talks with defender Matty Cash over a new contract.
The money has been heavily linked with a move away from Villa Park, with Spanish champions Atletico Madrid keen to sign the player. He is the only one of Steven Gerrard’s players to have played every game this season and has been a consistent player for Villa since leaving Nottingham Forest in the 2020 summer transfer window.
Cash is out of contract at the end of the 2024-25 season, but it is reported in The Sun that Villa will seek to open talks with the player over a new deal. If Cash signs new terms with Villa, it would mean a pay rise for the 24-year-old, but his value would be protected in case another club comes for him.
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Atleti are reported to be ‘lining up’ a £40m bid for Cash with the player identified as a potential replacement for Kieran Trippier, who joined Newcastle United in January. Villa would not want to lose any of their best players as Gerrard views his first summer window in charge as one where he can improve his squad.
Gerrard has spoken of the support from club owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens following his side’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Saturday. “The League is not lying and I would say Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, West Ham, Wolves, at the moment are ahead of us for a reason and there is a gap and that’s what we’re striving to do,” Gerrard said.
“But if we’re going to take one of them, we have to be positive, believe in it, not be indecisive, and we have to go after it, we have to believe what we’re doing, to keep learning and getting support. from above and seize it.” Cash has made 59 career appearances for Villa, scoring three times and recording six appearances in burgundy and blue.