'Very complicated' Aston Villa situation puts three clubs on transfer alert

Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Sanson has reportedly been 'watched by' Premier League rivals Crystal Palace as well as two other French clubs.

The 27-year-old has made just 17 appearances in claret and blue over a year since arriving from Marseille in January 2021 as a result of struggles with injuries and competition for places in their midfield.

Sanson was an unused substitute in Villa 's previous four matches before replacing Douglas Luiz against Brighton and Hove Albion for a first appearance in over a month.

That was just the eighth appearance of the season, just two of which have been starts, and none have lasted for the full 90 minutes.

Reports in French outlet Jeunesfooteux on Friday morning say that Palace alongside Ligue 1 sides LOSC Lille and Stade Rennais have been 'alerted' by what they describe as 'a very complicated season' for Sanson who is 'struggling to convince' head coach Steven Gerrard to hand the midfielder more minutes.

They suggest it would 'not be surprising' to see a departure from Villa Park take place this summer, with Lille, according to their information, 'very attentive to the situation'.

It is, though, added that a loan move may be 'more tempting' for the pair of French sides, with the player still having more than three years remaining on the four-and-a-half-year deal signed last winter.

In the lead up to the Brighton match, Sanson took to social media to send what many interpreted as a message to head coach Gerrard about a lack of playing time.

The post, which remains on the players' Instagram account, shows a picture of the player raising a finger during the match accompanied by the caption: "Never give up."

It should be added that since Sanson has shared an action shot from