Yahoo News Agent calls for 'focus' as Nicolo Zaniolo's Aston Villa future discussed
The agent of Aston Villa loan player Nicolo Zaniolo has been discussing his client's future as his time in the West Midlands potentially comes to an end.
The 24-year-old signed a one-year loan deal at Villa Park last August, joining from Turkish Super Lig Galatasaray. This included a 'conditional compulsory purchase option' if certain criteria was met, although given that the Italian international has only made two starts in 2024 it appears the club will have a decision to make come the end of the campaign.
His parent club are expected to offload the midfielder either way, with recent transfer speculation linking him with a return to his homeland. Asked if this will be his client's destination for certain, agent Claudio Vigorelli had a short response.
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"Today we only think about finishing the season well," he told TuttoMercatoWeb, before adding, "The Premier League was a wonderful experience and that doesn’t mean he can’t continue. Let’s focus on the end of the season and the European championship, which is upon us, then we’ll see."
If a permanent move is sealed this summer, Galatasaray are supposedly seeking a €20m (£17.1m) fee. TuttoMercatoWeb have been covering the situation extensively in recent weeks and believe Villa director Monchi has not been impressed enough with the Italian's performances to warrant an offer.
They also claim Villa chiefs have identified who would make the ideal signing instead - Juventus' Matias Soule. The Argentine 21-year-old has made 33 Serie A appearances on loan to Frosinone this season, scoring 11 goals and assisting three.
As for Zaniolo, Villa boss Unai Emery recently stated: "I told him, 'Nicolo, even if you are playing with us next year, even if you are going back to Galatasaray, even if you are back in Italy, I want the best of you and only I want the good attitude you are showing now'."
