Aston Villa preparing a January swoop for one of Tottenham Hotspur’s top defensive targets, Paris Saint-Germain’s Milan Škriniar, who is likely to depart the French club after falling out of favor.
According to Sport Witness, citing a report from L’Équipe, Tottenham have shown a “real desire” to sign the Slovakian centre-back, with their pursuit reportedly further advanced than Villa’s. However, Unai Emery’s side are “waiting in the wings” and could step in to hijack the move. While strengthening the defence is not an urgent priority for Villa, the opportunity to sign a player of Škriniar’s pedigree may be too appealing to ignore.
Why Milan Škriniar is on the market
Škriniar, Slovakia’s captain with 77 international caps, gained recognition as one of Europe’s premier defenders during his six years at Inter Milan. The 29-year-old made nearly 250 appearances for the Italian giants, earning plaudits for his consistency and leadership at the back.
In 2023, Škriniar left Inter as a free agent and signed a lucrative five-year contract with PSG, reportedly earning €315,000 (£266,000) per week, according to Capology. However, his debut season in Paris has been far from stellar. Injuries and underwhelming performances have seen Škriniar fall out of favor under head coach Luis Enrique, who has since dropped him from the starting lineup. Frustrated by his lack of playing time, Škriniar is open to an exit.
How much would Škriniar cost?
Earlier reports from Caught Offside suggested PSG could demand a transfer fee of up to €35m (£29.5m) for the Slovakian defender. However, Sport Witness now claims PSG might facilitate Škriniar’s departure via an initial loan deal, potentially with an obligatory purchase clause tied to relatively straightforward conditions.
This structure could make the deal more viable for Villa or any Premier League suitor, especially given financial restrictions around profit and sustainability regulations. Details remain unclear, such as whether PSG would require a loan fee or the extent of Škriniar’s wages that the purchasing club would need to cover.
Competition for Škriniar’s signature
While Villa and Tottenham remain the key Premier League contenders for Škriniar, they aren’t alone in their interest. Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe are also reportedly monitoring the situation. Fenerbahçe, managed by José Mourinho, are particularly keen after a recent bid for Newcastle United’s Lloyd Kelly was turned down. The Turkish side is actively working to bolster their defence.
If Villa can act decisively, they may edge out their competition for Škriniar, securing a high-profile addition to strengthen their squad for the latter half of the season.