Aston Villa have approached Red Star Belgrade for striker Jovan Mijatovic who Manchester City wants.
Unai Emery is still waiting to make his first Aston Villa signing of this window but an announcement on one is said to be imminent.
A move for Red Star Belgrade right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, is in its ‘final stages’.
The Spaniard wanted to add competition for Matty Cash and after wrapping up one position, bolstering his midfield and attack is now the priority.
In recent days, it has been reported that Villa are keen on signing Real Sociedad duo Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi while the club are said to have approached Borussia Dortmund for winger Gio Reyna.
The rumours don’t stop there, though, with the Villans looking to return to poach another youngster from Serbia.
Aston Villa approach Red Star Belgrade for Jovan Mijatovic
A back-up for goal-machine Ollie Watkins has been talked up a lot in this transfer window.
With Jhon Duran’s future up in the air, Emery is looking for a young striker who he can develop into the next world-beater.
This has led him towards teenager Jovan Mijatovic who is attracting several European powerhouses.
According to journalist Francesco Guerrieri – as relayed by Sport Witness – Villa have approached the 18-year-old.
It is claimed that they are ‘in talks’ over a €9 million (£7.7 million) move for the player.
This comes after the striker was ‘about to move’ to Manchester City earlier this week, according to reports, and now the Villans are swooping in for the youngster.
While it isn’t clear how much City put on the table, beating the treble winners to his signature could be a massive coup by Monchi.
One for the future
Serbia have a habit of producing quality strikers having watched the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic become European goal machines.
Mijatovic, who has plundered eight goals in 14 league appearances this term, could be the next lethal striker to rise from his homeland.
In December 2023, he became Crvena Zvezda’s youngest-ever hat-trick scorer in the league, surpassing the legendary Dejan Stanković.
Mijatovic is a “powerful” forward who possesses a keen eye for goal and has been praised by talent scout Jacek Kulig as an “absolute revelation”.
There’s no surprise he’s being showered with praise given his goal-scoring exploits, but if he joins Villa instead of Man City, plying his trade in England’s top flight will be a true test of his ability.
Nonetheless, if he can come close to achieving what Mitrovic did in England, Emery could have a fine striker on his hands should a deal be completed.
