Aston Villa are preparing a £20m bid for Brentford forward Neal Maupay as Dean Smith plots the club’s return to the Premier League next season, claims The Sun.
Villa defeated Derby in the Championship play-off final on Monday to secure Premier League football for the first time since 2016.
Smith will now have a bigger budget to work with over the summer as Villa turn their attention to beating the drop in the Premier League next season.
The 48-year-old wants to raid former club Brentford of Maupay, who he brought the best out of during his time at the club.
Villa only had Tammy Abraham on loan from Chelsea this season and the England Under-21 international’s preference is to stay at Stamford Bridge.
Despite scoring 25 goals in the Championship this term, it’s also unclear whether Villa are prepared to shell out in the region of £25m to sign Abraham on a full-time basis.
The 21-year-old has previously struggled to make an impact in the Premier League and Villa’s interest in Maupay seemingly confirms they are planning for next season without Abraham.
Villa may even have to make Maupay their club-record signing to land him from Brentford, eclipsing the £24m they spent the sign Darren Bent from Sunderland in 2011.
Maupay, 22, played a direct hand in 33 goals in the Championship this season (25 goals, eight assists), only Norwich striker Teemu Pukki (38) managed more.
