Aston Villa has entered the race for Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, with the 25-year-old Brazilian international reportedly nearing a move to Villa Park. Gomes is said to be leaving Wolves' training camp in Portugal to finalize a transfer valued at approximately £35 million.
A previous move to Atletico Madrid for Gomes had stalled last month as the Spanish club pursued other targets. Gomes has reportedly said his farewells to his Wolves teammates and is expected to undergo a medical at Aston Villa following accelerated discussions between the clubs.
In addition to Gomes, Aston Villa has identified Bayern Munich's Joao Palhinha as another midfield target. The 31-year-old Portuguese star, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, is available for transfer from the German club, which is seeking a fee of around £20 million for the player. Palhinha's previous loan spell saw him score a crucial goal that helped Tottenham secure their league status.
While Palhinha has also attracted interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, he is also being pursued by Portuguese sides Benfica and Sporting Lisbon. A reunion with former manager Marco Silva at Benfica was considered a possibility, but factors such as cost and the club's project are expected to be significant in any decision. Aston Villa's participation in the Champions League is seen as a potential draw for the midfielder as they look to strengthen their options in the center of the park.
Elsewhere in the transfer market, Brighton & Hove Albion has confirmed the permanent transfer of defender Diego Coppola to Liam Rosenior's Paris FC. The Italian center-back's move is valued at approximately £17 million. Coppola made nine appearances for Brighton and spent the latter half of the previous season on loan at Paris FC, where he played 14 matches.
Bristol City is also in talks to sign Plymouth Argyle striker Lorent Tolaj. The Swiss-born forward scored 21 goals last season and has drawn interest from clubs domestically and internationally. Bristol City is reportedly offering around £4 million plus add-ons for Tolaj. The club is also in discussions to sign Dom Ballard from Leyton Orient, who scored 23 goals last season and was named League One player of the year, as they aim to build a new attacking partnership. The summer transfer window remains open until September 1, signaling a potentially busy period for clubs seeking to strengthen their rosters for the upcoming season.