Both Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur have been busy in the last few transfer windows, although the results have been different so far.
The Villans finished fourth in the Premier League table last season to qualify for the Champions League, and now they’re in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Aston Villa are also in the FA Cup quarter-finals and remain in the picture to qualify for the Champions League this time round – testament to a superbly-assembled squad.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have brought in a multitude of players under Ange Postecoglou, but results have been mixed, although their injury crisis certainly hasn’t helped.
Now, a report has emerged claiming the Villans are leading Tottenham in the race to sign a Chelsea man Enzo Maresca deemed one of his “best players” earlier this season.
Aston Villa lead Tottenham in Noni Madueke race
The player in question is Noni Madueke, who faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey recently claimed that Villa appreciate Madueke, though Tottenham and Newcastle are also keen.
Now, GiveMeSport has reported that Villa are leading the race to sign Madueke in the summer and they have renewed optimism in the race for his signature.
This is because there is increasing confidence that Chelsea are prepared to cash in if a strong bid that allows them to make some profit is tabled.
Villa are expected to be alongside Newcastle as the frontrunners to land Madueke, who is apparently open to moving if his Chelsea game time remains limited.
What Enzo Maresca has said about Noni Madueke
Maresca has questioned Madueke more than once in public this season.
In mid-January, the Chelsea boss said he believed Noni Madueke is “one of Chelsea’s best players” but challenged the winger to prove it on a regular basis.
“I consider Noni one of our best players to be honest,” Maresca said, as per the Evening Standard.
“But because of that we want our best players to behave in the right way always. Not to switch off, not [to have] some days where they can drop. No.
“[We know] that during a season it’s normal that for some players they are not 100 per cent. But it’s not just about Noni, it’s about all the players.”
| Statistic | Number | Percentile |
| Non-Penalty Goals | 0.42 | 88 |
| npxG: Non-Penalty xG | 0.37 | 88 |
| Shots Total | 3.59 | 93 |
| Pass Completion % | 81.80% | 84 |
| Progressive Carries | 6.55 | 98 |
| Successful Take-Ons | 2.13 | 73 |
| Touches (Att Pen) | 7.84 | 96 |
| Progressive Passes Rec | 10.89 | 87 |
And just a few weeks later, Maresca said, as per the same outlet: “Yes, he scored a goal but after he scored the goal he stopped playing.
“This has to be something that we need to improve immediately, absolutely.
“Never happy if you score one, two, you go for more and I think after he scored the goal he stopped a little bit playing and that is something we need to improve.”
It remains to be seen whether Maresca chooses to keep Madueke or decides to make him available for sale. In that case, Villa and Tottenham should be able to pounce.
