Aston Villa linked with Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour and River Plate goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán

Aston Villa are said to have enquired about Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour, according to journalist Sébastien Vidal, who claims the club are positioning themselves alongside Newcastle United for the 22-year-old. Brighton, Crystal Palace and Hull City are also named as interested parties, while Liverpool have reportedly been linked with the Italian international.

Fiorentina are said to value Ndour at approximately €35 million. The midfielder arrived in Florence last summer for a reported €5 million plus a 50 per cent sell-on clause after Benfica sold him to Paris Saint-Germain, where he signed a five-year deal before loan spells at Braga and Besiktas. He has started all four of Fiorentina’s league matches this season.

In goalkeeping matters, Birmingham Live reports that Villa and Manchester City have watched River Plate’s Santiago Beltrán. Argentine outlet El Intransigente claims the 21-year-old currently has a €21 million release clause, though his representatives are negotiating fresh terms that could extend his stay until December 2029 and increase that figure to €100 million. Atlético Madrid are also said to be monitoring the situation.

Beltrán has previously trained at international level with Emiliano Martínez, who left Villa Park for Chelsea at the end of August. Unai Emery’s squad already features Zion Suzuki, signed from Parma during the summer as the new first-choice goalkeeper, alongside Marco Bizot as cover.

These reports emerge barely two weeks after the summer transfer window closed on 1 September. With Premier League clubs unable to complete any signings until the market reopens on 1 January 2027, any genuine interest in Ndour or Beltrán would remain in the exploratory phase for several months.

Villa were active throughout the summer, adding players including Ibrahim Mbaye, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Nicolas Jackson, Leon Goretzka, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho and João Gomes, while several senior figures departed alongside Martínez.