Aston Villa are reportedly keeping tabs on Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge once more, according to claims emerging from South America on Sunday. Brazilian outlet Bolavip states that the Premier League club is among several European sides tracking the 24-year-old ahead of the next registration period, which opens on New Year's Day.
Sport Witness notes that Villa scouts watched Jorge play against Grêmio last year during the same trip that led to the signing of Alysson Edward. While the Birmingham club opted not to pursue the striker at that stage, West Ham made an unsuccessful attempt to sign him in January before he remained in Brazil.
His domestic form has only strengthened since then. Jorge has registered 17 goals in 40 matches this season, adding to the 26 he managed across 46 outings in the previous campaign. That run of 43 goals in 86 games has also earned him a place in Carlo Ancelotti's provisional national squad for upcoming post-World Cup friendlies.
Sports Mole adds that AC Milan, Benfica, Fiorentina and Bayer Leverkusen are all said to be assessing whether a deal could be struck when business resumes in 2027. The publication suggests enquiries so far have been limited to establishing if a transfer might be feasible rather than formal approaches.
Cruzeiro appear well positioned to drive a hard bargain should they decide to sell. Jorge signed a contract extension that runs until 2030, and the club currently sit sixth in the Brazilian top flight while chasing qualification for the Copa Libertadores.
For now, nothing concrete has materialised between any interested party and the player's representatives. With the summer window having shut on 1 September, Villa cannot complete a signing until January, leaving plenty of time for the situation to develop or fade entirely.
