Aston Villa are keen on signing Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder Marco Asensio during the ongoing January transfer window, according to French outlet RMC Sport.
The Villa Park club want to bolster their squad for the second half of 2024-25 as they look to finish in the top-four again, and the quality and versatility of the Spain international have attracted them.
Asensio is currently out of favour at PSG, and a move to Villa could appeal to him, but the Midlands club could be asked to trade Jhon Duran for the three-time Champions League winner.
🚨EXCL Marco Asensio fait partie des joueurs suivis par Aston Villa cet hiver @RMCsport pic.twitter.com/u141Oby4W2
— Fabrice Hawkins (@FabriceHawkins) January 10, 2025
The Ligue 1 club have the Colombian forward on their list of transfer targets, and while they have yet to approach Villa for talks over a potential swap deal, the interest in Asensio could give them a chance to present the matter.
However, manager Unai Emery is unlikely to be willing to lose Duran anytime soon even if a direct swap involving the Colombian moving to France for the former Real Madrid to seal a Villa Park move is offered.
The 21-year-old striker has seven goals in 28 Premier League appearances so far this season, weighing in with five goals in eight appearances across other competitions, and losing such an influential player is the last thing the Villans want.
PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani is also a player Villa are keeping tabs on, and whether they will be able to land the France international and Asensio while holding on to Duran remains to be seen.
Despite being in and out of the PSG starting XI, the Spaniard has two goals and four assists in 11 league games this term after ending last term with four goals and five assists in 19 Ligue 1 appearances.
Asensio can play on both wings, as a striker and in midfield, and Emery could do with such a player, with his huge experience also a quality that would come in handy should Villa land him.
