Rumours are swirling around Mateus Fernandes, with Aston Villa reportedly showing interest in the midfielder currently plying his trade at Southampton. With both teams looking to strengthen their squads, the move could have a massive impact on their seasons going forward. Aston Villa remain optimistic, but the deal is not without hurdles. Juventus, Atletico and Leeds continue to monitor developments and could yet re-enter the race if negotiations stall or valuation gaps remain unresolved. Aston Villa are only scoring 0.86 goals per game (6 in 7) this season, which suggests they need more creativity in the middle. Mateus Fernandes would be seen as the link to raise the tempo and feed the attack. Southampton have also been linked with Ethan Wheatley while Aston Villa are reportedly monitoring Gabriel, Rodrigo Muniz Carvalho and Samuel Omorodion. Stay tuned to PlayerSwitch for up-to-the-minute football transfer rumours and news from your club and beyond.