Aston Villa have reportedly initiated contact with Arsenal over a shock swoop for versatile forward Leandro Trossard.

The Villans are in the market for another attacker as Unai Emery seeks to bolster his squad depth ahead of the new season. Villa are expected to sell Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey in the coming days with talks advancing with Newcastle United and Roma, so voids will need to be filled.

For the first time this summer, substantial transfer funds are also expected to become available. Villa have been held back by PSR and SCR restrictions but could finally make several expensive signings. Evann Guessand and Marco Bizot have already joined for a combined £33 million but the business can now really motor on if Villa complete their sales.

Aston Villa make shock enquiry for Arsenal attacker

Villa are reportedly looking at Arsenal’s Trossard as an option to improve their forward ranks. Both Indykaila News and Football Transfers claim Villa have lodged an ‘enquiry’ over Trossard’s availability, confident he could leave following Arsenal’s acquisition of Noni Madueke from Chelsea.

The report from Football Transfers suggests this isn’t the first time Villa have been in contact for Trossard as they also made an enquiry in January. Back then, the Gunners said he was strictly not for sale as they were certain he was going to sign a new contract. Trossard is yet to put pen to paper, however, so the situation may have changed.

The 45-time Belgium international is now into the final 12 months of his contract and Arsenal risk losing him for free if they don’t cash in this summer. The 30-year-old has been an influential figure ever since he signed from Brighton & Hove Albion three years ago, initially as an impact substitute and more recently as a regular starter.

Having scored 28 goals and provided 23 assists in 124 appearances across all competitions, Trossard has proved to be a bargain signing at £27 million. When you add goals and assists together, last term was his most productive in the Premier League to date as he scored eight and set up eight, appearing in all 38 matches.

Brentford join Villa in Trossard race

Another Premier League side, Brentford, are reportedly set to lock horns with Villa for Trossard. The report from Football Transfers states the Bees have also been ‘in contact’ over a potential swoop as they seek to recover from losing Bryan Mbuemo and prepare for life without Yoanne Wissa, who is pushing for a transfer away.

Arsenal are said to be seeking £18 million to let Trossard leave this summer, representing a loss but at least gaining some funds rather than losing the forward for free. It awaits to be seen whether Villa and Brentford would be willing to pay that or whether Trossard would be interested in such a move away from the Emirates Stadium.