Aston Villa Told To Pay €80m For This Midfield Target: Why Should They Not Oblige? | OneFootball

The transfer market rarely hums along quietly when a genuinely special talent emerges on the continent. Martin Baturina is the latest name attracting the attention of European recruitment departments. Having traded Dinamo Zagreb for sunny Italy last summer in an €18m deal, the 23-year-old playmaker has just lit up Serie A under the watchful eye of Cesc Fàbregas. Now, the Premier League big hitters are interested.

Aston Villa test the waters for Como breakout star Martin Baturina

Reports from Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, suggest Aston Villa have already stepped up to the plate. Roberto Olabe and his recruitment team slapped down an opening bid somewhere in the region of €50m to €55m. Bold. It wasn’t enough, though. Como knocked it straight back, safe in the knowledge that the Croatian international is tied down to a long-term contract running until 2030. They don’t need to sell.

Croatian outlet 24 Sata has backed up the chatter, noting that while Croatia’s World Cup campaign was a bit of a damp squib, Baturina’s stock has done nothing but skyrocket. The Italians have set their line in the sand. Pay €80m, or don’t bother calling.

TORONTO, ONTARIO – JUNE 23: Martin Baturina #16 of Croatia reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between Panama and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on June 23, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Eight goals and four assists from 34 appearances in his debut season tells you exactly why Europe’s elite are twitchy. On paper, he looks tailored for Unai Emery. The Spaniard loves those narrow, suffocating possession shapes. Baturina thrives when starting out wide on the left flank before drifting inside to pull the strings in the half-spaces, operating with the kind of high-octane technical efficiency that gets modern managers licking their lips.

But €80m? That is serious money. Ludicrous, really, for a player Transfermarkt still values around the €30m mark. Villa have to keep a very close eye on strict squad cost rules. Throwing a massive chunk of the remaining summer kitty at a single Serie A breakout profile is a massive roll of the dice. Especially when you look at what the squad actually lacks. Pace. Raw, terrifying, touchline-hugging velocity.

Tottenham and Bayern Munich are sniffing around too. Let them have the bidding war. Villa already have players who like to drop deep and occupy those exact central pockets. Instead of chasing a luxury signing, pivoting toward a more direct, vertical winger makes far more sense. Someone like Karim Adeyemi or Jonathan Rowe. Someone who can stretch a deep defensive block and inject pure speed into the transition. Spending an absolute fortune on Baturina when more pressing holes need plugging would be a massive financial blunder.