Aston Villa make £5million bid for Reading midfielder

Aston Villa have made a £5million bid for sought-after Reading midfielder Aaron Tshibola, sources have told TEAMtalk.com.

Tshibola made his breakthrough for the Royals last season and his performances have caught the eye of the likes of Crystal Palace, Norwich and Celtic.

Norwich are understood to have made a £2million move the 21-year-old last month, but Villa are now favourites to land the England youth international, who was previously on trial at Manchester United.

However, new Reading boss Jaap Stam is loathe to lose Tshibola, and expressed his desire to keep the youngster last week.

“His future is here with us, I don’t want him to leave and I have spoken to the club. He’s a young player with so much quality. He needs to stay at Reading,” he said

“He’s the kind of player we want to keep at the club, you don’t want to sell them. Maybe clubs would be tempted if a certain offer came in but I’ve spoken to the owners and told them I don’t want to sell and that he needs to stay.

“Of course, it’s up to Aaron as well, but you know how football works. There are a lot of agents involved and everybody is looking after their own interests.

“A lot of rumours come from that but for me he is going nowhere, he is staying at the club.”