Aston Villa’s interest in one of the rising talents of European football, it seems, is no secret over in Italy.
Though whether the sudden rise to prominence of Lamare Bogade convinces the Premier League high-flyers to shift their focus elsewhere when the transfer window opens again in 2025, only time will tell.
Bogarde, despite his half-time withdrawal during Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League triumph away at BSC Young Boys, has made quite the impression since being promoted to the starting XI by Unai Emery.
So much so that Matty Cash – Aston Villa’s usual first-choice right-back – may have a fight on his hands earning back his place when he recovers from a hamstring injury.
But is Bogarde really Villa’s right-back of the future? Or merely a promising placeholder until the Midland giants can bring in a successor?
Aston Villa and Brentford like Fiorentina ace Michael Kayode
HITC reported back in June that the 1982 European Champions had opened talks with Fiorentina about a potential deal for Italy Under 21 international Michael Kayode.
Villa reportedly had a £12 million offer rejected too, per Alfredo Pedulla, with the Serie A outfit holding out for £25 million.
Earlier this week, Fiorentina director Daniele Prade confirmed that it was the Viola president – Rocco Commisso – who blocked Kayode’s potential switch to English football.
And while Prade stopped short of directly naming the clubs that had expressed an interest, Kayode’s agent was not quite so mysterious in conversation with Radio Firenze Viola.
“Yes, everyone knew that Aston Villa and Brentford had come forward,” says Andrea Ritorni, head of scouting at VigoGlobalSport. “It’s good when a boy (has interest from) a major league like the English one.
“(Prade) told the truth. (Fiorentina) considers him an important element for the future.”
Kayode, HITC understands, has also caught the eye of Tottenham Hotspur in recent times.
Ange Postecoglou likes technically-gifted, tactically versatile full-backs. And Kayode ticks both boxes with his impressive athleticism and his ability to either hold down the flank or drift infield and create overloads in the midfield.
Tottenham are big fans of the Italy Under 21 star
Prade, meanwhile, points to the situations facing Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea as proof of why Kayode is better off away from Villa Park for the time being.
Iling-Junior and Barrenechea joined from Juventus as part of the deal that took Douglas Luiz to Turin.
But, rather than hand them both a first-team role in Emery’s squad, Villa instead opted to loan the former out to Bologna while sending the Argentine midfielder to Valencia.
“He doesn’t even know it but he’s had offers. More than one,” Prade told Tuttomercatoweb of Kayode.
“If you ask me, I personally even thought about selling him. But the president would never have done it and I didn’t even have the courage to ask him.
“He’s also an exceptional guy who has significant margins (for improvement), and I don’t think he was ready for such a big step now,” adds the Viola chief, who recently confirmed that Fiorentina lost out to Everton for Lyon loanee Orel Mangala.
“Look at Iling Junior and Barrenechea, who went to the Premier League and then elsewhere after 40 days.”
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