Aston Villa, Newcastle United handed transfer advice involving Norwich City - 'we do really miss him' | OneFootball

Galatasaray star Gabriel Sara, formerly of Norwich City, has attracted transfer interest from Premier League duo Aston Villa and Newcastle United

Galatasaray ace Gabriel Sara has attracted transfer interest from Premier League outfits Aston Villa and Newcastle United, having previously lit up the Championship before moving to Turkiye.

The creative midfielder formerly played for Norwich City, where he excelled in the Championship, particularly during the 2023/24 campaign.

Sara notched 13 goals and 12 assists in the second tier that season, which helped the Canaries land a play-off spot, and ultimately earned a big move to Turkiye.

The 26-year-old received recognition for his strong Galatasaray performances in both the Super Lig and the Champions League when he made his Brazil debut last month.

Aston Villa and Newcastle United told Gabriel Sara can perform in the Premier League

According to TeamTalk, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are among the Premier League clubs interested in Sara, who helped Galatasaray defeat Liverpool in the Champions League twice this term.

The Turkish giants were ultimately knocked out of the European competition by the Reds, with a second-leg loss in the last 16.

Meanwhile, amid the Premier League interest in Sara's services, Football League World asked our Norwich fan pundit, Zeke Downes, if the Brazil international could become a real star in the top flight and how much he misses him at Carrow Road.

Zeke told FLW: "I'm really not surprised that he's attracting a lot of interest from the Premier League, because he would suit that style, I think, very well.

"He's obviously had two years in England, so he knows what it's like. Obviously, the Premier League is a level above the Championship, but I think he would be able to cope with that.

"I think he would suit Aston Villa's style quite well, and the fact that they keep on having a lot of injuries. I think he could be a guy that would happily play further back in midfield or in the 10 (role), or even on the wing.

"I think it would work really, really well, and it's a nice thing to see, because he left (Norwich) in a really good way, and all the fans wish him nothing but the best.

"We do really miss him, obviously. To have a guy like him in our team now would be amazing. We just wish him all the best, because it is nice to watch him playing in the Champions League and doing really well."

Gabriel Sara could be a real asset for Aston Villa

The transfer interest in Sara from the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle shows that the former Norwich man's future is a story to keep an eye on this summer.

Meanwhile, as alluded to by Downes, the 26-year-old could be a particularly strong asset for Villa, thanks to his versatility.

As proven by the likes of John McGinn, Unai Emery is a manager who heavily values players that are capable of excelling in multiple different positions.

Sara is an equally gifted talent in both a defensive and an attacking midfield role, suggesting that he would have what it takes to produce the goods at Villa Park.

The Premier League is undoubtedly a stronger division than any league the Brazil international has played in before, but his Champions League performances have shown he can trouble the likes of Liverpool.