Aston Villa have enquired about Leeds United target Igor Paixao, Marseille are seeking €35m to sanction a sale | OneFootball

Aston Villa have made an enquiry about the availability of Marseille winger Igor Paixao, potentially setting up a transfer battle with Premier League rivals Leeds United, according to L’Equipe.

Paixao has seen his stock rise significantly following a stellar debut campaign in France. After joining Marseille from Feyenoord last August for a club-record fee, the Brazilian adapted quickly to his new surroundings.

He featured in 42 matches across all competitions last season, contributing 12 goals and six assists. He also impressed on the continental stage, netting four times and recording one assist in eight Champions League appearances.

With Unai Emery looking to add attacking options ahead of next season, Villa have registered their interest in the 26-year-old.

However, prising the winger away from the Stade Velodrome will not come cheap, as he has four years remaining on his contract.

Meanwhile, Leeds United have been tracking the Brazilian for several weeks as they look to strengthen their forward line.

Manager Daniel Farke is eager to ease the goalscoring burden on Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Having missed out on primary target Julian Brandt, who opted to join Dutch giants Ajax, Leeds have placed Paixao firmly on their shortlist.

The Yorkshire club view him as a perfect fit for their system but now face strong competition from a Villa side offering top-tier European football.

Marseille are in a strong negotiating position, with no immediate financial pressure to sell. As a result, they are demanding a minimum of €35 million to recoup their initial investment and fund their own summer business.