Aston Villa agree €26.5m deal to sign Ruggeri from Atletico Madrid | OneFootball

Aston Villa are set to sign Atletico Madrid left-back Matteo Ruggeri, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

The Villains have agreed a deal worth €25 million plus another €1.5m in bonuses. He will travel for medicals this week if the papers were submitted in recent hours.

Villa needed a new left-back following the departure of Lucas Digne this summer, and Ruggeri emerged as a top target.

Ruggeri caught the eye in 26 La Liga appearances last term, creating five big chances, winning 59 percent of his aerial and 38% of his ground duels while helping to keep five clean sheets.

Aston Villa are preparing for another competitive season on all fronts that starts with a UEFA Super Cup showdown with Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain today.

They could not afford to go into the season with Ian Maatsen as their only option at left-back.

Lauded for his ‘great stamina‘, Ruggeri is set to be Villa’s fifth summer signing after Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, Alejandro Garnacho, and Modou Keba Cisse.

After Ruggeri, the Birmingham-based outfit will likely move on to Joao Palhinha, as they look to shore up the midfield following the injury to Amadou Onana.

Elsewhere, Evann Guessand is reportedly close to completing a loan move away. Defender Kosta Nedeljkovic is also a target for a club from Belgium.

Villa must hold on to Ezri Konsa now

The biggest priority now should be making sure Aston Villa do not lose another key piece of their squad.

Ezri Konsa continues to attract interest from Premier League rivals, and they must do everything possible to keep their captain at Villa Park.

The England international has become one of the most reliable defenders in Unai Emery’s side, offering composure, versatility and leadership at the back.

Losing Konsa would create a major headache and potentially force the club back into the transfer market.

Villa are strengthening impressively, but keeping their best players is just as important.