Aston Villa are one of several Premier League clubs closely monitoring the progress of 18-year-old midfielder Ousmane Diabate, with a view to making a move for the Genclerbirligi Ankara starlet this summer.
What happened?
According to TEAMtalk, Villa are among several top-flight clubs that have been observing Diabate's development in Turkey, with Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, and Brighton also said to be interested in the young Guinean.
Why it matters for N'Golo Kante
Diabate's defensive qualities and intelligence on the ball have drawn comparisons to N'Golo Kante, the legendary France midfielder, who is known for his tireless work rate and ability to read the game.
What comes next?
While Villa are yet to make direct contact with Diabate's representatives or Genclerbirligi, they hold genuine interest in the teenage talent, as Unai Emery looks to start succession planning for some of his ageing midfielders.
Villa need to get younger in midfield in the coming years, with the likes of Ross Barkley, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Emiliano Buendia all entering the latter stages of their career. Tielemans is set to join Manchester United for £35million, while Freiburg's Johan Manzambi is expected to come straight in to replace the Belgian.
It's said that Diabate is on terms at Genclerbirligi that would allow him to leave for a modest fee, making him an attractive option for Premier League clubs currently operating in a highly-inflated domestic market. While the youngster is open to a move to a top-five league, his development is being carefully managed by those close to him, and they may believe a move next summer makes more sense for his career.
As glowing as the reviews of Diabate are, it's unlikely that he's ready to make an immediate impact in the Premier League at Villa Park. His career to date consists of 207 senior league minutes, all of which have come in the Turkish Super Lig. He may have great potential, but he's probably not polished and certainly isn't the finished article.
For Villa, Diabate would be a project signing, and they may need to allow him to go on loan first before blooding him in the intense English top flight. With Tielemans leaving and Amadou Onana sustaining an ACL injury during the World Cup, Manzambi and a developing Diabate clearly won't be enough for Emery's team this summer.