Despite being an omnipresent figure in European football for almost a decade, the 31-year-old could be available for a mere €3 million after being deemed surplus to requirements, reports Bild.
Meunier, who only made ten Bundesliga appearances in 2022/23, has just over a year left to run on his contract at Signal Iduna Park, hence Dortmund’s willingness to let him go for peanuts.
Die Borussen boss Edin Terzic has cast the Belgian defender away and won’t oppose his immediate departure, although finding potential buyers has proved challenging thus far.
Villa’s sudden interest in the former Paris Saint-Germain ace could change the narrative, with some reports from Italy speaking of possible interference from AC Milan and Juventus.
Unai Emery knows in-depth about Meunier’s capabilities, having coached him at the Parc des Princes between 2016 and 2018, handing him 70 appearances in all competitions.
Now he has an opportunity to work with the Belgian again, and since he’d come at a ridiculously low price, the Spaniard may take the risk despite the latter being on the wrong side of 30.
Dortmund’s only intention at the moment is to remove Meunier’s salary from their wage bill, as he’s become a liability, so striking an agreement shouldn’t be a problem.
However, this should be taken with a grain of salt, considering the Lions are well covered on the right flank.
Matty Cash and Alex Moreno did well last season, especially the Spaniard, who joined the Villa Park outfit from Real Betis in January and immediately established himself as a regular starter.
Therefore, Meunier’s potential arrival would likely spell the end of the former’s career in Birmingham, as there’s no point having three right-backs on a payroll.
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