Italy international Nicolò Zaniolo is leaving Aston Villa for a return to Galatasaray, but Villarreal are increasingly pushing for his next move rather than Fiorentina.
It had been assumed the winger would want a move back to Italy after a disappointing loan spell in the Premier League, where Villa have no intention of activating their option to buy him outright.
Fiorentina and Milan had show interest, but Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio insists that Villarreal are the strongest candidates for Zaniolo’s signature.
Zaniolo seeking stability
He turns 25 next month and has been ruled out of the EURO 2024 campaign due to a microfracture in his foot, sustained during one of his 39 appearances for Aston Villa, where he contributed three goals.
There is a release clause in Zaniolo’s contract worth €35m, but the terms Galatasaray offered to Aston Villa were a loan at €5m with option to buy for a further €22.5m plus €15.5m in add-ons.
Considering all the difficulties he had this past year, Caught Offside had already reported Galatasaray would accept a loan with option to buy for €15m.