Aston Villa are close to agreeing a deal to sign Mbwana Samatta after productive talks with Genk over the Tanzania striker. Negotiations with the Belgian champions are continuing, although it is understood that Villa have agreed to pay £8.5m to buy the 27-year-old. Villa face a race against time to ensure Samatta is available for Saturday’s trip to Brighton, and Smith admitted that with the 21-year-old back-up striker Keinan Davis sidelined time was of the essence. “I’m calm and confident we will get players but we have big games and if we don’t get one in by Saturday it’ll be the third in a row without a recognised striker,” he said. His contract expires at the end of the season and he has been talking with potential new employers this week so has not trained with Villa.

Source: The Guardian January 16, 2020 14:47 UTC