Aston Villa have rekindled their interest in Matias Soulé
Roma’s financial position mean major summer exits by the end of June are likely
Bournemouth are also in the picture
Aston Villa have “set their sights” on Roma’s Matias Soulé for the summer transfer window. They previously showed interest in the Argentinian, both last summer and the year before.
LaRoma24 reports that Soulé could be one of the players Roma sell by the end of June to ensure they comply with Financial Fair Play restrictions. However, as they bought the 23-year-old from Juventus for €30 million (£26 million) in 2024, they will find it difficult to receive a significant return.
Villa’s admiration for him is not a sudden development. Rumours of the club’s interest surfaced as early as the summer of 2024. During Douglas Luiz’s move to Juventus, the Villans attempted to include Soulé in the deal, but the Italian’s high valuation ensured he was not involved. As a result, he joined Roma in the same window.
Last summer, it was also reported that he was being considered once again, alongside Tottenham, but neither made an official offer.
This season, the midfielder has been a key part of Gian Piero Gasperini’s side. He’s scored seven times and provided seven assists in 38 appearances. In the Serie A, he has eleven goal contributions, after recently returning from a groin injury.
In addition to Villa’s interest, Bournemouth and Stuttgart are also said to be in the frame.
Tactical fit for the wide playmaker role
Soulé is a natural fit for Unai Emery’s inverted No 10s. He is left-footed and is capable of playing centrally or on the right. In Villa’s typical attacking transition, the right side 10 will drift inside to allow Matty Cash to bomb forward.
This is where the Argentinian excels. He has the ability to dribble past players in tight areas, forcing the opposition’s midfield to collapse toward him, which leaves space for his teammates to roam freely.
The exciting prospect of him joining Villa is the potential of the link-up play with Morgan Rogers. Having them both on the flanks will allow them to be more fluid. Furthermore, as both Rogers and Soulé are comfortable taking the ball inside, they can swap positions mid-attack. This constant rotation makes Villa incredibly difficult to mark, as defenders won’t know who to track.
As the club looks to refresh their attacking options, Soulé represents a player who can add that creative quality Villa has been missing on the right side. With Roma’s financial pressures potentially opening the door for a deal, his arrival could be the catalyst that elevates Villa’s attacking spark to an elite level.