Aston Villa are again interested in signing Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara as Unai Emery seeks to bolster his squad following a series of midfield setbacks, according to reports. The club is aiming for a £35 million double deal to address issues in midfield and at left-back.
Villa experienced a successful 2025-26 season, culminating in a Europa League title and Champions League qualification. However, the club has already faced disruption ahead of the 2026-27 campaign with key personnel changes and injuries. Youri Tielemans completed a £35 million move to Manchester United earlier this week after his release clause was met.
Further compounding the situation, Amadou Onana suffered an ACL rupture while on international duty, and Boubacar Kamara continues to recover from a serious knee injury sustained in January. The trio of Tielemans, Onana, and Kamara were considered a formidable midfield unit last season, but their availability is now uncertain.
TEAMtalk initially reported Villa’s interest in Sara earlier this summer. The 27-year-old Brazilian playmaker joined Galatasaray from Norwich City in 2024 and has since registered eight goals and 15 assists in 87 appearances for the Turkish club. Sporx now claims Villa are revisiting their pursuit following Tielemans’ departure.
Villa are reportedly preparing an offer of around £25.5 million for Sara, despite his current estimated value being approximately £23 million. Sara’s contract with Galatasaray runs until 2029, but he has significantly improved his game since leaving Norwich, making him an attractive option for Emery.
In addition to Sara, Villa are also reportedly interested in AC Milan’s Pervis Estupinan. The Ecuadorian left-back has struggled for playing time since his £16 million move to Milan in 2025 and could be available for around £10 million. Estupinan previously worked with Emery at Villarreal and could compete with Ian Maatsen for the left-back position. Reports suggest Lucas Digne may be sold to Paris Saint-Germain for a similar fee.
The potential arrival of Sara and Estupinan would significantly strengthen Villa’s squad depth and provide Emery with more tactical options as they prepare for a challenging season in the Champions League.
