Di Matteo ready to hijack Championship rivals bid for £10m striker – report
By Amir Mir
Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo is prepared to hijack Norwich’s attempt to sign striker Ross McCormack, according to a report.
The Birmingham Mail claim the Italian is a huge admirer of the Scottish international, who has been the subject of a £10million bid from the Canaries.
It is said Villa’s Championship rivals are in the box seat to sign the forward on the back of his 21-goal campaign last season, but Di Matteo is prepared to gatecrash their bid for the Fulham man if negotiations between the two parties continue to drag on.
The 29-year-old has a £15million release clause after extending his contract in January until 2020.
It has been reported that Fulham may be willing to cash in on their player for a price lower than his release clause, even though £2.5million was added to the original £12.5m clause when he signed the contract extension.
The Midlands outfit are on the lookout for a new striker after relegation last term which saw them find the net on only 27 occasions.
Di Matteo has previously stated that bringing in a striker is his priority with the club reportedly putting in a £5 million bid for Bristol City striker Johnathan Kodjia.
In other Aston Villa transfer news, Roberto Di Matteo is receiving interest from their rivals who are monitoring their £5 million rated academy graduate.