Liam Duckstein
Aston Villa are pressing ahead with their pursuit of Roma winger Matias Soule, with reports out of Italy indicating that Unai Emery has no intention of easing off his interest in the 23-year-old Argentine.
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With a Champions League return secured for next season, Emery is working with an expanded transfer budget and a clear directive: lower the average age of the first-team squad. Younger players and those approaching their mid-twenties are the primary targets, and Soule fits that profile precisely. Versatile attackers are squarely on the agenda alongside defensive reinforcements, according to Il Messaggero.
Roma’s Openness and Soule’s Stop-Start Season
Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini is reported to be open to a sale. The reason is straightforward: frustration with the stop-start nature of Soule‘s 2025-26 campaign, disrupted by injuries. Across all competitions, he has contributed seven goals and seven assists from 36 starts and five substitute appearances. The raw numbers hold up, but the context is less convincing. He has not completed 90 minutes since October, and has registered just one assist since February.
Over his Serie A career, Soule has accumulated 23 goals and 13 assists from 111 appearances, a record that underlines his quality when fit and consistent.
Villa’s Leverage and the £30.2m Valuation
Roma have set a price of €35m (£30.22m) for Soule‘s signature. Villa will contest that figure, and they have a credible basis for doing so. The two clubs share a productive working relationship, with Leon Bailey and Donyell Malen both having moved to the Italian capital since last summer. Malen arrived on loan with an expected obligation to complete a £21.6m deal, and his performances across the second half of the season were a direct factor in Villa securing Champions League qualification.
With Malen outperforming Soule in comparable metrics over the same period, Villa believe they have grounds to push back on Roma‘s valuation. Given the positional overlap, similar versatility, and the broader context of Soule‘s injury-affected campaign, Villa are reportedly targeting a fee no higher than £25m for the former Juventus youngster.
Follow TipsGG for the latest updates as this transfer develops through the summer window.