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Brighton and Sunderland eye Villa's Bogarde

ยทBy Junior Yekini
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Brighton and Sunderland eye Villa's Bogarde

Aston Villa/X.com

Aston Villa midfielder Lamare Bogarde has emerged as a summer target for both Brighton and Hove Albion and Sunderland.

Should a suitable bid land, the 22-year-old could depart Villa Park before the window closes, though club and player have not ruled out extending his current deal.

Preliminary conversations over fresh terms have already taken place between Villa and Bogarde, but any progress is likely to wait until suitors show their hand.

Voetbal International reports that Brighton and Sunderland are each prepared to table a "significant transfer fee" to land the Dutch youth international.

Aston Villa are said to rate the Netherlands Under-21 international at close to โ‚ฌ25million, or ยฃ21.5million.

Talks over a new contract are ongoing, yet Bogarde's priority remains gaining a consistent run in the side rather than fresh terms alone.

He managed only 11 Premier League starts last term, squeezed out by a crowded midfield containing Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Ross Barkley and John McGinn.

His versatility extends to right-back and centre-back, yet he is not first choice in either role, and Villa are separately hunting for a new right-back this summer.

Both suitors, according to Voetbal International, now rank Bogarde among their "top transfer targets" for the window.

Villa manager Unai Emery reflected on Bogarde's progress back in March, offering insight into how the club had nurtured him.

"He has been with us for three and a half years, and we are working with every player. With him - being on loan and then coming back - we were doing a lot of individual sessions with him," Emery said.

"His process is working individually, with the group, having experiences, sometimes being on loan at other teams. This season, it's been a more consistent season for him.

"He achieved the level again yesterday, he played a fantastic match. His versatility is very important, playing as a midfielder or a centre-back or at right-back."

Bogarde progressed through Villa's youth ranks before loan spells elsewhere, and has since fought his way back into contention under Emery.

Whatever happens next is likely to be shaped by how quickly Villa can settle his contract situation, with both Brighton and Sunderland waiting in the wings.