Wolves and Southampton join Middlesbrough in chase for £10m-rated Aston Villa man | OneFootball

Lewis Dobbin is in high demand this summer, and both Wolves and Southampton have joined the race for his signature

Lewis Dobbin is looking to be one of the most sought-after players in the transfer window amongst Championship clubs this summer.

The 23-year-old has been on the books of Aston Villa for two years now, after arriving from Everton for £10 million in the summer of 2024, but is yet to make his debut for Unai Emery's side and likely won't before he is eventually sold on, perhaps in the coming weeks.

Indeed, while Villa's rapid progression in recent years to the point where they're now European competition regulars, the squad level has outgrown Dobbin, but that doesn't mean he isn't, right now, a top Championship frontman.

Dobbin spent last season on loan at Preston North End and enjoyed a breakout season at Deepdale, netting 10 and assisting eight in 39 Championship outings.

That has, understandably, piqued the interest of some of the top sides in the division ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. Most notably, Middlesbrough, who lost in the play-off final back in May, are targeting Dobbin to try and improve their overall goalscoring output after a campaign that left a lot to be desired in that regard.

Wolves and Southampton join Lewis Dobbin race

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Middlesbrough aren't set to be the only top Championship side aiming to secure Dobbin's signature this summer, however.

According to the Lancashire Post, both Wolves and Southampton are in the race for the 23-year-old, which effectively rules out a return to Preston to reunite with fellow loan star from last season, Alfie Devine, who made a permanent move for a whopping £6 million earlier this week.

Southampton's owner, Dragan Solak, has stated that the priority in the transfer window at St Mary's this summer is to bring in a new number 10 to support Finn Azaz.

While Dobbin spent the majority of last season at Preston playing up front, he was often deeper than either Daniel Jebbison or Milutin Osmajic, so could easily slot in as an attacking midfielder next to Azaz and behind Cyle Larin for Tonda Eckert next season, or act as a backup for either.

Meanwhile, Wolves seem relatively set when it comes to strikers, with Raul Jimenez and Adam Armstrong regarded as two of the best in the division heading into the new campaign.

However, there'll likely need to be reinforcements out wide and potentially in an attacking midfield sense, if Mateus Mane does end up being snapped up by a top European side.

Either way, it reinforces the level of interest for Dobbin this summer, and whoever does end up prying him away from Aston Villa will hope that the 23-year-old can fire them into the Premier League.

How much Middlesbrough, Wolves or Southampton may have to pay for Lewis Dobbin

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The Lancashire Post goes on to state that Aston Villa value Dobbin at £9 million-£10 million after a strong campaign at Preston. Evidently, the Premier League outfit aren't keen on making a loss on the eight-figure fee they spent to bring him to Villa Park two years ago.

With the number of Championship sides splashing big fees on players this summer, that price tag won't likely deter any of those top second-tier outfits, especially with the trio bringing in, or likely to bring in, decent fees from any player sales this summer, too, that they can reinvest.

Arguably, Middlesbrough need a player of Dobbin's quality more than their rivals, with last season's main frustrations at the Riverside being to do with how wasteful they were in front of goal.

With Dobbin acting as back-up or as someone to support another attacking midfielder elsewhere, the money could be better invested in other positions.

Either way, it's a strong price tag for someone coming off the back of their first really productive campaign. Before this past season, such a fee would have been laughed at by top Championship sides.

Therefore, there'll still be an element of risk, but one that is more likely to pay off than not, if Dobbin can continue where he left off at Deepdale.