Aston Villa target Montpellier Belhanda

Montpellier president Louis Nicollin confirmed Aston Villa are among clubs battling for the signature of their highly-rated midfielder Younes Belhanda.

The 23-year-old Morocco international has recently revealed he is keen on a move to England, and, with Montpellier being ready to part ways with their valuable asset, the bitter rivals Arsenal and Tottenham were considered the most likely points of his destination. But now it looks like Aston Villa are the only Premier League club that has made a concrete offer for Belhanda.

Louis Nicollin said: “He is leaving. There are four or five clubs that have come in. It is now down to the player to choose now because we are almost in agreement with the clubs. He will leave for 14-15 million euros.”

Asked if they received a respectable offer for the player, Nicollin replied: “Yes. From AC Milan, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray and Aston Villa. We have no problem now, he [Belhanda] has the authority to agree with whoever he wants now.”