Aston Villa: £18m Villa Park target has 'done it at a higher level'

Aston Villa target Geoffrey Kondogbia has played at a ‘higher level’ than some of the other players on their radar, according to journalist Josh Holland.

The 29-year-old is believed to be one of several central midfielders on the Midlands outfit’s shortlist as they look to continue their progression on the pitch under Steven Gerrard.

According to BirminghamLive, Gerrard personally scouted Kondogbia during Atletico Madrid’s Champions League encounter with Manchester City.

The report states that the defensive-minded ace is believed to be a ‘serious target’, with the Villa hierarchy seemingly ‘very confident’ of getting a deal over the line.

However, Kondogbia is not the only engine room operator believed to be on Gerrard’s wish list.

Dutch newspaper Voetbal International has claimed that the 41-year-old tactician has also ran the rule over PSV Eindhoven’s Ibrahim Sangare, while Football Insider have credited Villa with an interest in Boubacar Kamara of Marseille.

With Douglas Luiz expected to depart Villa Park after entering the final 14 months of his current contract, Gerrard already appears to be working towards bringing in his successor.

Holland believes Kondogbia has more experience at the top of the game than the likes of Sangare and Kamara, and also reckons signing a central defensive midfielder is a ‘priority’ for Villa.

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He told GiveMeSport: “Kondogbia, I think everyone knows his performances in the Champions League for years now have been noted.

“He’s a bit on the veteran side compared to the other two (Sangare and Kamara), but he’s done it at a higher level than obviously PSV and Marseille. So, I do think that a CDM was