Aston Villa tipped to sign 'missing piece of the jigsaw' in cut-price summer transfer

Aston Villa have been tipped to land top target Yves Bissouma in a cut-price summer deal.

Bissouma was a priority signing for Villa head coach Steven Gerrard during the January transfer window after the arrivals of Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Digne, Robin Olsen and Calum Chambers.

Villa weren't willing to stretch to Brighton's £50million price tag for Mali international Bissouma.

The club are, however, expected to return for Bissouma in the summer when Brighton's asking price is likely to be considerably lower.

Bissouma will have just 12 months left on his contract at the end of this season, which gives Brighton little choice but to negotiate with his suitors.

And Gabby Agbonlahor believes Villa passed up the chance to sign Bissouma in January in the knowledge that the 25-year-old will be much easier to acquire in the summer.

Speaking to Football Insider, Villa's all-time record Premier League goalscorer said: “The Bissouma deal is one I imagined they really wanted but they won’t pay over the odds for someone who hasn’t got long left on his contract.

“Villa probably think they can cope without Bissouma until the summer. Then you can get him in the summer for a lesser amount.

“100 per cent a defensive midfielder is going to be the summer priority.

“Steven Gerrard will be happy with his other midfielders of Sanson, Ramsey and McGinn. He’ll be happy with the other two spaces in the midfield.

“With the forward players, he’ll be more than happy. A defensive midfielder is the biggest part missing of the jigsaw and I can see that being Bissouma.”