According to reports in Belgium, Aston Villa are set to beat Newcastle to the signing of Genk goal machine Mbwana Samatta.
This comes from HLN – one of the leading outlets in Belgium – who claim the 27-year-old is now ‘on his way’ to England after Villa activated his €10m release clause.
The Chronicle claimed the Tanzania international was on Newcastle’s radar and ‘one to watch’ given he was available at a bargain price, however it looks like Aston Villa have already made their move.
Samatta has been in superb goalscoring form over the past 18 months, bagging 10 times already this season after scoring a stunning 32 goals across Genk’s 2018/19 campaign.
Reliable Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur reported this morning that he was set to join an ‘unnamed English club’, and HLN now report that this club is Villa:
With club record signing Wesley Moraes ruled out for the season with a serious knee injury, Dean Smith is in desperate need of a new striker – and it looks like he may now have one in Samatta.
Time will tell – with a loan bid for Islam Slimani also reported this week – but if reports from Belgian are anything to go by, Samatta won’t be arriving at St James’ Park this month.
