Aston Villa told what they must do if they want to complete £17m transfer

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode this summer transfer window - but the Europa Conference League runners up, for a second season in a row, have placed a €20m (or £17m) price-tag on the defender.

Kayode, who only turns 20 next month, came through the ranks initially of Juventus, before he dropped all the way down to Serie D with Gozzano in his mid-teens and played a lot of senior football at that level before agreeing to join Fiorentina in 2021. After a couple of years in the club's academy, Kayode made his breakthrough into the first-team this past season and played 37 times in all competitions as they finished 8th and reached the Conference League final again.

His appearances and performances have attracted the attention of clubs around Europe, though, and Fiorentina are wary that that interest may lead to offers. Kayode signed a new long-term contract with Fiorentina in the autumn of last year and has four years remaining on that deal, as well as the option of a fifth, so the Florence club are in a strong bargaining position.

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Reports in Italy claim that Villa, who are set to address their squad this summer, have made an offer of €15m for Kayode, which is in the region of between £12-13m, but Fiorentina are adamant that the defender is going nowhere unless they are offered what they are demanding interested parties pay.

Villa have already opened their accounts for arrivals and departures this summer, and it's shaping up to be a busy couple of months ahead; Tim Iroegbunam and Lewis Dobbin have switched clubs, while Cameron Archer and Kosta Nedeljkovic will also be reporting for pre-season training as things stand. The transfers involving Douglas Luiz, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea are imminent, as are deals for Omari Kellyman, Ross Barkley and Ian Maatsen.

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