Aston Villa 'closing in' on Aaron Wan-Bissaka deal after West Ham talks
Aston Villa are pushing to complete the signing of West Ham star Aaron Wan-Bissaka amid ongoing negotiations between the clubs.
The 28-year-old has been widely expected to leave the London Stadium after their relegation from the Premier League placed a number of potential suitors on high alert.
Unai Emery, meanwhile, has been aiming to strengthen his back line, with the addition of a new right-back having been high on his list for over 12 months now.
Former Aston Villa scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Wan-Bissaka could be the answer to Emery's prayers as they close in on an agreement with West Ham.
Talks have taken place over a fee which is expected to be agreed between £20million and £25million, and despite interest from elsewhere, Villa are now the clear front-runners.
Brown has backed Emery to get the best out of Wan-Bissaka by allowing him to focus on his defensive responsibilities, and believes a move to Villa Park will be good for all parties.
Could Aston Villa make a move for Aaron Wan-Bissaka?
Football Insider revealed on 14 August that Aston Villa have reached an agreement in principle with Wan-Bissaka and are now working towards an agreement with West Ham.
The right-back has been identified as the ideal candidate to finally adress what has been a long-term concern for Emery, and they are now confident of completing a deal.
Despite what became a frustrating spell at West Ham for Wan-Bissaka, he has been backed to find his form at Aston Villa, with the boss ready to get the best out of him.
"I'm told Aston Villa are closing in on a deal to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka," Brown told Football Insider.
"I'm a big fan of his, I thought he was a top player for Man United and I told West Ham they were getting a bargain deal when they signed him, it now looks the same for Villa.
"If you use him correctly, as I'm sure Unai Emery will because he tends to be good at getting the best out of his players, he can be an excellent option.
"The defensive side of his game is fantastic, so as long as you don't expect him to go flying down the wing like a forward, he will do a good job.
"In that respect, he could be the answer to Unai Emery's prayers, because he's been looking to bring in a new right-back for at least a year now."
Which other clubs are interested in signing Wan-Bissaka?
Aston Villa have positioned themselves as front-runners to sign Wan-Bissaka after holding talks with West Ham, but they are not alone in their pursuit.
Everton are also believed to have been keeping tabs on the right-back's situation, with David Moyes aiming to strengthen his back line ahead of the new season.
Brown first told Football Insider in June that Moyes is looking to bring Wan-Bissaka to Everton as the addition of a new right-back remains a priority this summer.
While he did not move to the London Stadium until Moyes had already left in 2024, the boss is now seeking to utilise his connections to reach an agreement and accelerate a deal.
Wan-Bissaka's availability has placed Everton on high alert, with the Toffees assessing a number of options in his position, and they could now make a move.