Aston Villa leads the race to sign FSV Mainz German winger Brajan Gruda: Reports

As per a recent report by ‘EPL Index’ and further backed by reputed German media outlet ‘Bild’, Premier League club Aston Villa is currently the front-runner to sign Bundesliga side FSV Mainz winger Brajan Gruda. The German international right-winger can also operate as an attacking midfielder and a center-forward.

The reports also signify that Villa is currently in a better situation as far as the Premier League’s PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) are concerned than other rival clubs like Liverpool and Newcastle United, who are also linked with the 20-year-old Brajan Gruda.

Aston Villa did manage to sell a couple of players in the earlier part of the transfer window, raising funds in the range of about  £51 million. That certainly eased up a bit of pressure on them inbound to PSR parameters. Gruda is a player who can be an effective addition to Unai Emery’s squad. Having that sort of pace and game awareness at such a young age does make him a potential fit for the Premier League.

With players like Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey sharing the majority of the workload for Villa behind Ollie Watkins in those attacking positions, Gruda can enhance the options available for Emery in the 2024-25 season. The 20-year-old had 30 games for Mainz in the previous Bundesliga season, in which he registered four goals and three assists to his name.

His current market value is touted to be around  £15 million (as per transfermarkt). Brajan Gruda’s contract with FSV Mainz darts till June 2026.