Aston Villa and West Ham United could battle it out for Torino wing-back Raoul Bellanova during the summer transfer window.
Last summer, Torino signed Raoul Bellanova on a £6m deal from Cagliari and the wing-back has been excellent since, registering a goal and five assists in 27 Serie A appearances. Speculation a week ago suggested that scouts from several clubs, including Manchester United and Aston Villa, have watched the Italian multiple times this season. And following his displays in Torino colours, it isn’t surprising that the 23-year-old has come under the radar of several top European clubs.
Aston Villa and West Ham had enquired about Bellanova in the January transfer window but Torino rejected their approaches. The Premier League duo could revive their interest in the former Italy under-21 international, with Torino reportedly slapping a £22m price tag on his head for clubs from abroad.
Could Raoul Bellanova move on from Torino after just one season?
The versatile Raoul Bellanova has enjoyed a fine season in Turin, where he has supplied six-goal contributions in 27 league outings. Attracted by his flexibility, technical skills and power, where he can operate at left or right full-back as well as on the flanks, Aston Villa and West Ham have been impressed with what they have seen throughout the season and will almost certainly continue running the rule over him in the coming weeks and months.
West Ham could do with an addition at full-back as Vladimir Coufal and Emerson Royal require cover and competition from next season, but Aston Villa have sufficient options at the moment. However, with Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno entering their 30s, Villa may dip into the market for a young full-back.
Bellanova could be ideal for both Premier League clubs as he is a young, dynamic and physical player with huge potential. If Torino are open to selling him at the right price after just one season, expect a scramble for the adventurous full-back’s signature in the summer.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
