'Wes Edens serious about investing' as Aston Villa talks continue despite president change

Aston Villa remain hopeful of striking a partnership deal with Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes. Villa's owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens want to invest in different regions around the world to help develop the very best talent.

Chief executive Christian Purslow and Villa's sporting director Johan Lange had built a strong rapport with Vitoria's previous president Miguel Pinto Lisboa but, earlier this month, he was replaced by Antonio Miguel Cardoso following an election. Villa will now press ahead with renegotiating new plans that will see Vitoria become part of V Sports, Villa's parent company owned by Sawiris and Edens.

A source told : "Wesley Edens was serious about investing in our club. Villa have been in touch outlining that they wanted to meet up here in Guimarães to know more about the club and infrastructure.

"[Villa] actually met up with our ex-president here, but I really don't know the situation right now. What I know is that the offer and the discussions are still on the table."

Another contact in Portugal added: "Vitoria was linked up with Aston Villa by the last president in charge. Two weeks ago, though, we had an election and the president, who had conversations with Aston Villa's CEO, lost the election. Vitoria now has a new president and talks will no doubt continue."

Speaking previously of Villa's plans to expand their club portfolio to mirror what clubs like Man City and Chelsea have achieved in Europe, Purslow said: "This next phase is more global, to try and put Aston Villa at the heart of an international talent development, talent recruitment model for professional footballers. This will see the club investing in different regions and territories around the world where talent is not