MANAGER REACTS TO CLAIM THAT ASTON VILLA HAVE HAD £9M BID ACCEPTED FOR STAR

Coach of Hellas Verona Marco Baroni acknowledges that players who wish to go can do so this month, but he will not comment on rumors that Aston Villa has accepted a £9 million offer for Cyril Ngonge.Hellas Verona allegedly “verbally accepted” an offer of 10 million euros made to Unai Emery’s Premier League dark horses earlier this week, according to reports that surfaced in Italy.

Now, Aston Villa are renowned for pulling off eye-catching deals out of the blue – remember the shock which accompanied the sudden and unexpected additions of Danny Ings and Diogo Carlos? – but those Ngonge rumours raised eyebrows at the time and feel even odder two days on when they were reported by Tuttomercatoweb.

Especially with further reports indicating that Hellas Verona are looking for much more than £9 million for a winger who only joined from Groningen 12 months ago.

Aston Villa linked with Cyril Ngonge deal

While all is going on, head coach Baroni argues that people searching for lifeboats as the Hellas Verona ship sinks won’t be compelled to stay and participate in a tough relegation struggle.

When questioned about Ngonge’s future at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, though, he was in no mood to divulge much.

“We cannot lose focus on things that we cannot control,” Baroni says to TMW, referring to the (half) season that lies ahead of them. I want to maintain the team’s attention on the variables under our control.

“There are people here who want to save themselves first and foremost and will do everything to do so. If a player cannot be held, it is clear that he must go.“I’m interested on the pitch. Then there are some things which are true and others that aren’t.”

Ngonge has caught the eye

Ngonge, who gained notoriety in 2021 for a spectacular scorpion kick goal against AZ Alkmaar, has five league goals this season for the struggling Hellas. The 23-year-old Belgian, who has proven he can thrive on the right, left, through the middle, and as an offensive midfielder as well, would give Aston Villa protection in a number of forward positions.

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