Aston Villa face Brighton competition for PSG star
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 20 Oct 2023 20:41 BST
- 3 min read
Aston Villa and Brighton are set to square off in the January transfer window over PSG midfielder Carlos Soler.
Peripheral to Luis Enrique’s thinking at Parc des Princes, the 26-year-old Soler has made six appearances for PSG in Ligue 1 this season but five of these have come from the bench.
Indeed, since making an €18 million move from Valencia last summer, Soler has struggled to make any kind of impression in the French capital and is, therefore, a player seen as surplus to requirements.
According to Le Parisien, Premier League sides Aston Villa and Brighton are both monitoring the player, who has won 14 caps for Spain. This could be a deal completed in the form of a loan.
Soler ready to leave PSG
Soler is said to be open to a move, with the prospect of going back to Valencia in LaLiga one that has been rumoured after he was spotted in his hometown, which he visits regularly, during the international break.
Valencia, though, are fighting a losing battle on this front. They can cover only a small portion of Soler’s wages via a temporary transfer due to their financial problems, and as such cannot hope to compete with the likes of Villa and Brighton.
Both Premier League clubs have had a habit of shopping for Spanish players in recent months. Unai Emery’s team signed Pau Torres from Villarreal in the summer and also took France international Clement Lenglet from Barcelona on loan.
Brighton also completed a loan from Barca, causing something of a stir as they grabbed Ansu Fati on loan.
PSG, meanwhile, are also seeking to find a way to offload striker Hugo Ekitike, who has struggled even to make the matchday squad this season, and Layvin Kurzawa, who spent last season on loan in the Premier League with Fulham but is not even thought to be pushing Lucas Hernandez, who himself is only occupying the left-back role due to an injury to Nuno Mendes.
