Aston Villa are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign highly-rated Rangers defender Calvin Bassey this summer.
According to The Times, Steven Gerrard is keen on bringing Bassey to Villa Park after an impressive season with Rangers which ended with standout performances in the Europa League final and Scottish Cup final earlier this month.
The report stated that Villa were impressed by Bassey’s performance at Hampden and the West Midlands club are now ‘ready to step up their pursuit of the Nigerian, with Gerrard keen to reunite with the player he signed as Rangers boss two years ago.
Gerrard’s men finished the season relatively strongly, putting their relegation fears behind them in the second half of the campaign.
But they will be desperate to do much better next time around, and they are showing just how determined they are with their early summer business.
Villa have already wrapped up a permanent deal for Philippe Coutinho, and Boubacar Kamara will join on a free transfer when his Marseille contract expires.