{"id":240772,"date":"2026-04-28T10:40:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T10:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/28\/aston-villa-storm-into-race-to-sign-the-best-tackler-in-the-champions-league\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T10:40:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T10:40:12","slug":"aston-villa-storm-into-race-to-sign-the-best-tackler-in-the-champions-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/28\/aston-villa-storm-into-race-to-sign-the-best-tackler-in-the-champions-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Aston Villa storm into race to sign the best tackler in the Champions League"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Aston Villa<\/a> are now keen on signing Sporting CP defender Maxi Araujo, and the Portuguese side are willing to sanction a transfer this summer.<\/p>\n

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\n Araujo attracting interest after impressing in the Champions League<\/strong>
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Sporting CP bowed out of the Champions League at the round of 16 stage, losing to Arsenal 1-0 on aggregate, which is certainly no disgrace, with Mikel Arteta’s side leading the way in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite his side losing against the Gunners, Araujo was very impressive on a personal level, and now sits at the top of the charts when it comes to tackles in the Champions League this season.<\/p>\n

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Uruguayan is now starting to attract interest from elsewhere, with Arsenal<\/a> recently holding talks about a summer deal for the left-back, who has a \u00a370m release clause in his contract with the Liga Portugal side.<\/p>\n

However, according to a report from Sport Witness, Sporting would be willing to cash-in for around \u20ac50m (\u00a343m) this summer, and Aston Villa have now burst into the race for Araujo’s signature.<\/a><\/p>\n

Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Manchester United are also credited with an interest though, so there could be fierce competition from some of Villa’s Premier League<\/a> rivals.<\/p>\n

Lauded<\/a> as “explosive” by some analysts, the Sporting star is capable of playing at both left-back and as a winger, which would make him a versatile option for Unai Emery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Emery is keen to bring in an upgrade on current left-back Lucas Digne<\/a> this summer, according to former scout Mick Brown, who said: “Left-back is a position Emery wants to strengthen in, so I expect they\u2019ll do it in the summer.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Digne isn\u2019t a bad player, but he\u2019s also not a real top player either. If Villa want to be a top team, he\u2019s somebody they need to improve on.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\n Maxi Araujo’s key stats this season<\/strong>
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\n \"Araujo-Sporting-Dowman-Arsenal\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Aside from impressing in the Champions League, the 26-year-old has been an important player in the Liga Portugal, where his attacking qualities have been on full display.<\/p>\n