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According to The Daily Mail, Aston Villa are expected to bid £10m for Joe Lolley this summer.
With the news coming just days after the Villans secured promotion back to the Premier League, it appears they aren’t wasting any time in looking to improve their squad.
The report claims that Villa boss Dean Smith has put the 26-year-old at the top of his list for a spot on the right wing, a position that clearly needs improving ahead of a return to the top-flight.
Lolley was in superb form for Nottingham Forest this term, finding the net on 11 occasions, so he certainly knows where the goal is.
Per The Daily Mail, Lolley is also a fan of the club, watching matches from the Holte end when he was younger. As a result, that could well hold an advantage in negotiations if the club follow up in their interest for the winger.
But with a potential move on the cards, Football FanCast writers have given their verdicts on whether he would be a good signing. Here’s what they’ve had to say.
Luke Glanville:
“It would be easy to suggest that Joe Lolley impressing so much for Nottingham Forest this season proves that he’s found his level in the Sky Bet Championship. However, the 26-year-old right winger was never really given enough of a chance with Huddersfield Town in the Premier League. So for me, the jury remains out, which means there’s no reason why Aston Villa shouldn’t go for the Englishman. And if it’s going to cost them a mere £10 million, it’s undoubtedly a risk worth taking.”
Jack Saville:
“It’s rarely easy to predict how a player will make the jump from Championship to Premier League football, and Lolley is certainly no exception to the rule. However, considering his versatility and the fact he managed to grab 22-goal contributions this season, it could prove to be a cunning piece of business from Villa if they can seal a £10 million deal. Smith clearly has to bolster his options in wide areas to have any chance of surviving next season and bringing Lolley in would be a great place to start.”
James Beavis:
“He probably would be a good signing, but Aston Villa simply don’t need him now. Anwar El Ghazi proved at Wembley on Monday that he is good enough to be Villa’s first-choice winger in the Premier League, and signing him on a permanent basis should now be Dean Smith’s priority. They would be throwing money down the drain if they sign Lolley as well as El Ghazi, so should stand by their promotion hero instead.”
