25th Jan, 2022 | 4:51pm

Sources: Aston Villa submitting eight-figure Bentancur bid as deal edges closer

Aston Villa are submitting a Tuesday night bid for Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, Football Insider understands.

The Premier League big spenders have made a formal move for the 24-year-old after opening talks over a late-window deal.

A Villa source has told Football Insider that the offer for Bentancur is around the £18million mark.

It is believed the Uruguay international is very keen to join Villa by next Monday’s cut-off.

But Juventus want to sign a replacement for Bentancur before letting him go and that could take the deal into the final days of the widow.

Villa have made it a priority to recruit a midfield anchorman after losing Marvelous Nakamba to a knee injury last month that required surgery.

Villa boss Steven Gerrard revealed last month (17 December) that the Zambian enforcer could miss between 12 and 16 weeks of action.

Bentancur, who is under contract in Turin until 2024, is the latest high-profile target of the Gerrard regime.

The Premier League legend was appointed in November and has overseen the January acquisitions of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne.

Villa are currently 11th in the Premier League, while Juventus are 5th in Serie A

Bentancur has featured in 19 times for struggling Juve this term, with those appearances yielding two assists.

The sale of the fora Boca Junior star could free up cash for Juventus to sign Fiorentina sensation Dusan Vlhavoic.

It has been widely reported today (25 January) that the Old Lady have struked £63m deal to sign the Serbian forward.

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