Aston Villa battle West Ham to sign Cash in new twist

Aston Villa have joined the hunt to sign Nottingham Forest defender Matty Cash, Football Insider understands.

The Midlands giants are in the market for a new right-back this window and have shortlisted the 23-year-old as a target.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Villa are rivalling West Ham, Sheffield United and Fulham to land Cash amid a growing likelihood he will leave Forest.

 

As revealed by Football Insider, Cash is has made it clear he is keen to quit Forest this summer and join a top-flight club.

That has opened the doors for suitors and Sheffield United have already had a £10million bid knocked back by the former European champions.

Forest are holding out for a fee of £15m for one of their prize assets and are hopeful of achieving that given the widespread interest.

Cash has graduated from the academy ranks at the City Ground to make 141 senior appearances.

Nearly a third of those came in the recently-completed campaign in which he made 40 Championship starts.

Villa’s interest comes as they prepare to sell James Bree to Luton Town in a deal that may be finalised this week.

Forest are vulnerable to losing Cash as their poor end-of-season form after the lockdown has consigned them to the second tier for another year.

Villa can steal a march on their rivals as West Ham have to offload some of their senior stars before they are in a position to submit a bid of their own.

In other news, Aston Villa have climbed above Leeds United to be in pole position to sign lethal forward.