Aston Villa have seen an initial bid of between €50m and €55m (£43.2m - £47.5m) rejected for Como forward Martin Baturina, according to reports in Italy. The offer was turned down by Cesc Fabregas’ side, who are preparing for their first season of European football following a surprising qualification for the Champions League.
Como are reportedly holding out for a fee of around €80m (£69m) for the Croatia international, who has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Leeds United in the past year. Baturina enjoyed a successful 2025/26 Serie A campaign, scoring six goals and providing three assists, establishing himself as a key player for Como. He is currently with the Croatian national team preparing for the World Cup in North America, where they will face England in their opening match on June 17.
Unai Emery is expected to receive significant funding to strengthen the Aston Villa squad after securing Champions League qualification, despite ongoing concerns about adhering to Premier League and UEFA financial regulations. The club has moved on from potential deals for Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott, opting to pursue new attacking options instead.
Alongside the pursuit of Baturina, Villa are reportedly making significant progress in their attempt to sign Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain. Talks are advancing quickly, and the club is confident of finalizing a deal for the Senegal international, who has emerged as a promising young winger in European football. Mbaye, PSG’s youngest-ever starter, is seeking regular first-team opportunities, which a move to Villa Park could provide.
The potential arrival of Mbaye may signal further changes at Villa, with reports suggesting that goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier is also on Emery’s shortlist. This interest in Chevalier indicates a possible change in goal, as current number one Emiliano Martinez is widely expected to leave the club this summer. French journalist Romaine CG has reported on X that Villa are eyeing both Mbaye and Chevalier, with Mbaye’s transfer being “very close”.
