Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the potential transfer of Georges Mikautadze as Villarreal reportedly closes in on a deal with Lyon for the striker, while Aston Villa is making a late attempt to hijack the move.
Fabrizio Romano first reported that Villarreal had reached an agreement with Lyon for a €30 million deal for the 24-year-old Georgian forward, indicating that Mikautadze’s flight was scheduled for Saturday with a medical planned for Sunday, labeling the deal as imminent. However, French journalist Marc Mechenoua has countered these claims by stating that Aston Villa is still in negotiation with Lyon, submitting a €25 million bid and reportedly having agreed on personal terms with the player. Villa is determined to disrupt Villarreal’s plans to secure the signing over the weekend.
Mikautadze recently joined Lyon from Metz in July 2024 for €18.5 million and has attracted significant interest following an impressive season where he scored 13 goals in 20 Ligue 1 appearances and earned multiple Player of the Month awards. Despite Lyon’s initial reluctance to sell him, financial constraints have forced them to consider offers, especially after losing club captain Alexandre Lacazette to Neom.
While Sunderland was briefly linked to Mikautadze earlier in the summer, the club has reportedly shifted focus to other targets like Loïs Openda and Abdul Fatawu ahead of the approaching deadline on Monday.
As Villarreal races to finalize the deal and Aston Villa pursues a last-minute intervention, Mikautadze’s future remains a key transfer storyline to follow leading up to deadline day, with the outcome still uncertain amid the competing interests.
Meanwhile, there’s an update on Sunderland’s contract discussions with midfielder Dan Neil, who is in the final year of his current deal. Head coach Régis Le Bris remains optimistic about reaching an agreement before Neil’s contract expires, emphasizing the shared decision-making process between the player and the club. Despite interest from other clubs, Neil has shown commitment to Sunderland, aiming to fulfill his aspirations with the team despite the ongoing contract negotiations.
