Aston Villa ‘Aiming to Beat Rivals’ to Signing Bradley Locko

In their pursuit of Bradley Locko, Aston Villa intends to overcome fierce opposition from other Premier League teams.

Journalist Alan Nixon reports that despite competition from Premier League rivals Manchester City, Aston Villa has set its sights on luring Bradley Locko to Villa Park. The Brest star was placed on the market ahead of the transfer window reopening in the coming weeks.

The Villans are on track to secure their spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season after displaying a great deal of ambition last summer when they acquired Moussa Diaby for £51.9 million from Bayer Leverkusen, becoming the club’s most expensive acquisition ever.

While Villa’s goal for Monday’s match against Liverpool is to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on a Europa Conference League title after losing to Olympiacos in the semifinals, which kept them from winning a continental championship since 1982, head coach Unai Emery has been planning his recruitment.

Locko Targeted by Emery Ahead of Summer Window

According to reputable journalist Nixon, Locko has gained attention from Villa after his current employers, Brest, listed him for £25 million. However, the Midlands team will face fierce competition from Premier League title contenders Manchester City prior to the transfer window reopening.

The left-back made his 35th appearance of the season on Friday in a 1-1 draw with Reims. According to the reporter, the Villans and Sky Blues sent scouts to watch him in action and are eager to win the race for his signature because he is regarded as “one of the best attacking defenders in Europe.”

If Locko were drawn to Villa before the 2024–2025 season, he would provide Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno new competition for a regular starting spot. Locko would also not put too much strain on the pay bill, as he presently makes slightly more than £8,000 per week at the Stade Francis-Le Ble.