Aston Villa appear to have made an early move for a winger thought to be high on Newcastle United’s radar heading into the summer transfer window.

News coming out of the Midlands indicates that Unai Emery’s side is looking to build on their January business that saw the permanent transfers of Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia, added to by late loan deals for Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi.

The Villans must feel they have enough to get over the line in the tightly-contested Champions League race, with them currently down in 10th but only six points behind Nottingham Forest in third.

Newcastle will have something to say about that with a game in hand and two point advantage, but it seems the two clubs could also battle for the same right winger target once the 2024/25 Premier League season comes to an end.

Aston Villa join race for Toon-linked winger

According to The Mail’s chief writer Sami Mokbel, Aston Villa have joined the race to sign Newcastle target Tyler Dibling.

Craig Hope reported in January that Newcastle’s sporting director Paul Mitchell was keen to strike a deal with Southampton, who he worked for between 2012 and 2014, to acquire the winger that the Saints valued at £55m during the January transfer window.

Southampton sit 15 points from safety and Dibling is expected to move when Southampton are inevitably relegated from the Premier League in the summer, with RB Leipzig and Spurs also showing ‘concrete interest’.

The Mail’s Mokbel claims that Villa have made enquiries about a potential summer move in recent weeks, suggesting they are keen to get to the front of the queue when the 19-year-old becomes available in a few months time. 

Dibling one of several names discussed

Dibling is one of several right wing options that have been mentioned in recent months, with a number of domestic and overseas targets thought to be on our radar.

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo have also been linked, thought both would be costly and involve a Premier League premium to be paid.

Overseas talents such as Johan Bakayoko of PSV and Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche are also being considered, with the Telegraph and the i’s Mark Douglas reporting on our interest in both. 

All signs point towards Newcastle adding a right-winger to their first team squad this summer. A strengthened PSR position following the deals struck for Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly have created wiggle room for some significant signings this summer, which feels much-needed in several areas of the pitch after a lack of first team investment.