Aston Villa Eye £26m Striker: Should Emery Bridge The €10m Gap?

Aston Villa Eye £26m Striker: Should Emery Bridge The €10m Gap? Aston Villa have renewed their interest in Colombian striker Kevin Viveros, with reports suggesting Unai Emery’s side could consider an offer exceeding €20m (£17.4m) during their next transfer move. According to RTI Esporte, via Sport Witness , Villa have contacted parties involved in the 26-year-old’s situation to assess the cost of a potential deal. However, the Premier League club have yet to submit an official bid, leaving the proposed transfer at the enquiry stage. Sport Witness previously reported that Aston Villa and Sunderland both explored Viveros during the summer transfer window. His continued scoring form has given Villa another reason to monitor his progress. The Athletico Paranaense forward has reportedly scored 19 goals in 27 Brasileirão appearances, establishing himself among the division’s leading scorers. He recently scored against Atlético Mineiro in a 2-2 draw and earned his first senior Colombia international call-up. That international breakthrough could help his prospects of moving to England, although he must still satisfy the relevant Football Association work permit requirements. Athletico Paranaense demand more than €30m Athletico Paranaense have significantly higher expectations than Villa’s reported valuation, with RTI Esporte claiming the Brazilian club want more than €30m (£26m) for their striker. The difference between the figures stands at approximately €10m (£8.7m). Villa would therefore need to increase their proposed investment considerably before the two clubs could make meaningful progress. Athletico hold a strong negotiating position because Viveros remains contracted until 2028, with an automatic extension mechanism reportedly included in his agreement. Discussions about improved terms have taken place, but those negotiations recently stalled. As previously reported, club president Mario Celso Petraglia intervened after the parties had moved close to agreeing a new deal, questioning whether Athletico needed to meet the proposed figures. Villa must now decide whether Viveros justifies that asking price. Should Aston Villa bridge the €10m valuation gap in January? RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 24: Kevin Viveros of Athletico Paranaense celebrates after scoring the third goal of his team during the match between Botafogo and Athletico Paranaense as part of Brasileirao 2026 at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on August 24, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images) Viveros could offer Emery an alternative attacking profile, particularly through his acceleration, physical strength and willingness to press defenders. His ability to operate on the right could give Villa additional options across the forward line, although his suitability for the Premier League would require careful assessment. Nicolas Jackson, Tammy Abraham, and young prospect Brian Madjo are the established options at this moment, so Villa must consider whether Viveros would complement their existing forwards rather than simply add another striker to the squad. Paying €30m would represent a substantial commitment, especially before the club establishes how effectively his scoring record translates to English football. His contract situation, age and recent international breakthrough strengthen his case, but they don’t eliminate the risks. Villa should continue negotiations and assess whether Athletico will accept a lower guaranteed fee with performance-related additions. Bridging the entire €10m gap immediately would make sense only if Emery and the recruitment team view Viveros as a clear first-team upgrade rather than a promising alternative.