Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is reportedly targeting a move for Brentford winger Said Benrahma as he looks to prepare his squad for Premier League football next season.
Reports in French newspaper Le10sport suggest the top flight newboys are preparing a 10m euro bid for the Bees star who netted an impressive 11 times last season, with 17 assists in what was a fine campaign for the ex-Nice youngster.
Should Villa sign the 23-year-old Algerian, it could be good news for Nottingham Forest as they look to hold onto their prized asset Joe Lolley.
Lolley, a boyhood Villa fan, is wanted by the Birmingham club, but reports say the two clubs are wide apart in their valuation for the former Huddersfield Town man.
Forest are understood to want in the region of £15m for Lolley, who only penned a new long-term contract in January, while Villa, it’s said, value him closer to £10m and with them looking elsewhere, it may yet be that the Reds can hang onto their star man.
Dean Smith has already been busy in the transfer market following the play-off final win over Derby a couple of weeks ago, adding Birmingham City winger Jota to his ranks, with ex-Red Gary Gardner making a permanent switch to St Andrew’s as part of the deal.
According to the report in the French press, Benrahma's superb form at Griffin Park last term caught no shortage of admiring glances from Premier League clubs, and Villa will not be the only club looking to try and get a deal over the line.
Forest may just hope it is.
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