In a dramatic twist to the January transfer window, Aston Villa are reportedly preparing a blockbuster bid for Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos, valued at around £69.4 million. This development suggests manager Unai Emery has shifted his attention away from previous targets Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace and Tammy Abraham.
Villa's Striker Search Takes a New Direction
The Villans have been actively searching for attacking reinforcements following Donyell Malen's departure to AS Roma. While preliminary talks were held regarding Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta, and discussions continued for weeks about a potential deal for Tammy Abraham, a new report from Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles indicates Villa's focus has now turned to the Portuguese international.
PSG's £69.4 Million Man in Villa's Sights
Castles has claimed that both Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are "working to extract" Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain this month. The 24-year-old striker was signed by PSG from Benfica for approximately €80 million (£69.4 million) in 2023 but has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter at the Parc des Princes.
Despite mainly featuring as a rotation option, Ramos has maintained respectable numbers, scoring 43 goals and providing nine assists in 114 appearances for the French champions. This maintains a similar goals-to-game ratio to his time at Benfica, where he netted 41 times in 106 games.
Financial Constraints and Competition Considerations
Any potential move for Ramos faces significant financial hurdles. Aston Villa must navigate both the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and UEFA's Squad Cost Rules (SCR), particularly with Champions League qualification looking increasingly likely.
These constraints mean Villa cannot afford to spend excessively on one player. Any deal for Ramos would likely need to be structured as either a bargain fee or a loan-to-buy arrangement. Additionally, convincing the Portuguese striker to accept reduced terms from his current mega-salary at PSG presents another challenge.
Emery remains hopeful of adding at least one more attacker this winter, following the arrivals of prospects Alysson and Brian Madjo. The recent departure of Malen in a £25 million loan-to-buy move has created space in the squad, with Leon Bailey potentially available after his loan recall.
While PSG are reportedly unwilling to let Ramos leave, both Villa and Palace believe there's a deal to be done and are preparing bids accordingly. The coming days will reveal whether this ambitious move materialises or if Villa return to their original targets.
