Aston Villa linked with stunning double transfer swoop as Steven Gerrard 'identifies' target

Aston Villa are keen on moves for midfielder Franck Kessie and Luis Suarez according to reports.

BirminghamLive's sister title, the Daily Express, reports that Villa boss Steven Gerrard is interested in completing deals to sign the pair.

Both players are in the final six months of their contracts at AC Milan and Atletico Madrid respectively, meaning they are free to negotiate with other teams about signing a contract elsewhere.

Kessie, 25, is a midfielder and is also wanted by Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United according to reports because of his contract status.

Suarez, meanwhile, was linked with a move to Villa in January but a transfer did not materialise with Gerrard insisting that a striker was not on his shortlist in the winter window.

The Express claim that Villa are 'willing' to go against Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur for Kessie but a deal may not be forthcoming simply because of the player's wage demands as a free transfer.

And it is being reported that Gerrard remains 'open-minded' about a move for Suarez, with Villa still in the race to sign the former Liverpool hot-shot who looks destined to leave Madrid this summer.

It would be a departure from Villa's transfer strategy of signing young, hungry players with high ceilings but an exception would be made for a player of Suarez's quality.

Suarez is said to want a return to the Premier League with the player firing Atletico to the La Liga title in the 2020-21 season with 21 goals in 32 games.

Villa are expected to strengthen again in the summer transfer window with a bid for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma rejected in January.

Gerrard's side do have the option of making Philippe Coutinho 's loan