Aston Villa: 'Big ambitions' at Villa Park could see Gerrard ask for £45m duo

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard ‘will be asking’ the club’s hierarchy to sign ‘at least one of’ Allan Saint-Maximin and Noni Madueke this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Midlands outfit have been linked to both wingers in recent weeks as they plan further additions to their first-team squad ahead of next season.

According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are surprisingly willing to part ways with Saint-Maximin despite his eye-catching performances and immense popularity at St. James’ Park.

It’s believed that the Magpies have placed a £50 million price tag on the former France Under-21 international, and the proceeds of his sale will top up their transfer budget for the summer.

Villa are named as a potential suitor for Saint-Maximin, who has registered five goals and three assists in 28 Premier League games this term, and still has over four years left to run on his current contract.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT have claimed that the Villa Park outfit are also keeping close tabs on PSV Eindhoven’s Madueke ahead of a potential move.

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Gerrard and his assistant Gary McAllister were spotted watching the 20-year-old against Leicester City in the quarter-finals of Europa Conference League at the King Power Stadium recently.

Yet the Foxes are also thought to be keen on bringing the Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate back to his homeland, meaning a bidding war could break out.

Villa have spent vast sums since returning to the top-flight at the beginning of 2019/20, and O’Rourke believes Gerrard won’t be afraid to ask the club’s owners for ‘at least one of’ the £28.8m-rated Saint-Maximin or £16.2m-rated Madueke.

He told GiveMeSport: “They have