Aston Villa bid rejected by Premier League rivals as Man Utd threaten to activate clause

Aston Villa’s bid to sign West Ham United’s promising youngster Lewis Orford has been rejected, according to reports. The Villans are keen to build for the future and have identified Orford as a key target, but their initial offer has been turned down by the Hammers.Orford, who is yet to make his senior debut for West Ham, has impressed at youth level and is considered one of the brightest prospects in the country.

The 18-year-old midfielder has already captained England’s under-18 side and has a reputation for his versatility and goal-scoring ability.Aston Villa are determined to land their man and are expected to make a second approach for Orford. The club’s manager, Unai Emery, is prioritizing the signing of young players with potential, with a view to developing them and either using them in the first team or selling them on for a profit.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are considering activating a release clause to sign Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee. The Red Devils are eager to improve their attacking options and have identified Zirkzee as a key target. The 23-year-old scored 11 goals and made four assists in 34 Serie A fixtures last term and is valued at £33.8 million.United are keen to beat off competition from other top clubs, including Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Juventus, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan, to sign Zirkzee.

The striker’s release clause is considered excellent value, and United are weighing up whether to trigger it.Aston Villa’s bid for Orford and Manchester United’s interest in Zirkzee are just the latest developments in what promises to be a busy transfer window. Both clubs are prioritizing the signing of young players with potential, with a view to building for the future.In other transfer news, Aston Villa are also close to signing talented winger Lewis Dobbin from Everton. The 20-year-old has already impressed in the Premier League and is considered one of the brightest prospects in the country. Villa are keen to build a strong squad for the future, and the signings of Orford and Dobbin would be a significant step in the right direction.

Overall, the transfer window is shaping up to be an exciting one, with many top clubs prioritizing the signing of young players with potential. Aston Villa and Manchester United are just two examples of clubs who are looking to build for the future, and their transfer activity will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.