Aston Villa are aggressively accelerating their summer transfer business. Following reports that long-serving left-back Lucas Digne is heading toward the exit door with a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain, Unai Emery’s recruitment team has locked onto a primary successor—and they are pushing to finalize the operation right away.
According to exclusive reports from Spanish daily Marca, the Premier League side have surged to the front of the queue to secure Atlético Madrid full-back Matteo Ruggeri, with negotiations moving at a lightning-fast pace.
Why Ruggeri is Available and Why Villa Want Him Now
Ruggeri only made the switch to the Wanda Metropolitano from Atalanta last summer, enjoying a solid debut campaign in La Liga where he racked up 47 appearances across all competitions and chipped in with seven assists.
However, squad dynamics in the Spanish capital have shifted rapidly. Diego Simeone has firmly established Alejandro Grimaldo as his undisputed first-choice left-back for the upcoming season, while versatile centre-back Dávid Hancko can also provide defensive cover. Consequently, Atlético made Ruggeri available on the market back in June as they look to streamline their squad and boost their financial position.
While Premier League rivals Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have monitored the Italian defender’s situation over recent weeks, it is Aston Villa who have dramatically ramped up their interest, looking to push through an immediate deal.
Clear Signs of an Imminent Exit: Training Isolation
The writing appears to be firmly on the wall regarding Ruggeri’s departure from Madrid. In a massive hint that a transfer is reaching its final stages, the 24-year-old was spotted training entirely apart from the main group on Monday, sitting on a stationary bike while watching his teammates prepare for the upcoming session.
Furthermore, Ruggeri’s high-profile representatives, Tullio Tinti and Manuel Montipó, held a direct summit with Atlético Madrid sporting director Mateu Alemany on Monday to sort out the player’s immediate future.
While Atlético are more than willing to green-light a sale to the Premier League to ease their financial books, the final decision now rests entirely in the player’s hands. Aston Villa have already submitted a formal contract offer, and Ruggeri is currently evaluating whether to accept the Villans’ proposal or wait out alternative offers.
However, time is of the essence. Atlético have made it clear that the Italian does not feature in their long-term sporting plans, meaning if he chooses to turn down Unai Emery’s side, he will still be forced to seek a new club before the transfer window closes.
Unai Emery’s Summer Overhaul Continues
For Aston Villa, landing a dynamic, technically gifted full-back with Champions League and Serie A pedigree like Ruggeri would represent a massive coup. As the Europa League winners look to build a squad capable of disrupting the upper echelons of the Premier League and competing fiercely on the continent, replacing Digne with a high-upside talent like Ruggeri is an elite piece of business.
With the clubs completely aligned on a sale and personal terms sitting on the table, all eyes are locked on Madrid. If Ruggeri gives the green light, expect Aston Villa to officially trigger white smoke and announce one of the most exciting full-back signings of the summer.
