Aston Villa plotting ambitious Castello Lukeba swoop – sources
Aston Villa are plotting a “very ambitious” move for RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed Villa are considering the 21-year-old as they want “defensive reinforcements.”
Unai Emery’s side have conceded nine goals in the opening seven Premier League games, boasting the second-worst defensive record in the top half of the table.
Villa’s options have been stretched due to Tyrone Mings’ lengthy knee injury, which he sustained in the opening game of last season.
The England international is working his way back to fitness, but Villa are looking at other options to enhance the squad in January.
Lukeba is seen as a “top player,” and a move for him is being seen as ambitious due to several other top European sides monitoring him.
Aston Villa will face competition to sign Castello Lukeba
Chelsea and Real Madrid are both keeping tabs on Lukeba’s progress at RB Leipzig, which will provide Villa with some competition to try and sign him.
Sources have told Football Insider that the German outfit are unlikely to consider any potential moves for the central defender at the moment.
However, the club notoriously develops players and then sells them in the future for a profit.
That is something that could happen in the future, but Lukeba is currently under contract until 2028.
The France Under-21s international made 41 appearances last season and has continued to remain a consistent presence in the RB Leipzig team throughout this campaign.
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