Aston Villa Eye €40m Serie A Star To Boost Champions League Push: Right Choice For Emery?
· Yahoo Sports
Aston Villa’s attacking reshuffle this summer has taken a sharp turn, with La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, reporting that the club have significantly stepped up their interest in Roma winger Matías Soulé in recent hours, with recruitment discussions accelerating following the permanent departure of Donyell Malen to Roma. The Argentine, who operates mainly from the right wing with a left-footed directness, has drawn stylistic comparisons with Ángel Di María and contributed six goals and five assists in Serie A this season.
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Aston Villa target Roma winger as summer rebuild gathers pace
Roma are required to guarantee around €80m in capital gains by June 30 due to Financial Fair Play regulations, and Soulé, bought from Juventus two seasons ago for €28.6m with a residual book value now sitting at €17m, represents exactly the kind of deal that generates that breathing room.
An offer of €40m would deliver Roma a capital gain of €23m. Sources at Football Insider have indicated that a deal could be completed before the start of July if the right cards fall into place, with the race to sign him currently described as “open” though interest also exists from Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund.
What does Soulé bring to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa?
UDINE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 02: Matias Soulé of Roma heads out onto the pitch ahead of kick off at the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and AS Roma at Stadio Friuli on February 02, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Soulé’s biggest strength is his versatility. He can operate on either wing or centrally as a number ten, offering tactical flexibility that suits Emery’s attacking structure, and his ability to attack defenders directly and create chances from wide areas would add genuine unpredictability to Villa’s front line. Villa, fresh from winning the Europa League with a 3-0 victory over Freiburg, have also secured Champions League football for next season after beating Liverpool 4-2. That combination of elite competition and a winning environment makes a compelling pitch.
Is this the right profile for Emery?
On the evidence, yes. Emery has consistently built his systems around technically sharp, wide forwards who press high and drift centrally. Soulé fits that profile almost perfectly. Emery transformed Villa from a relegation battle in November 2022 into Europa League champions, and his track record of developing attacking talent within a defined structure is now well-established.
The concern is Soulé’s injury record and a goalless run since January, but at 23 with three years left on his Roma contract, this is a calculated investment rather than a gamble. Aston Villa have earned the right to think big this summer.