Villa close on Ayew and eye eight more

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Ayew, 23, is expected to arrive in Birmingham in the next 24 hours for contract talks and a medical as Villa move quickly to replace Christian Benteke, who moved to Liverpool for £32.5million earlier this week.

Villa boss Tim Sherwood is reported to have met with the club’s new sporting director Hendrik Almstadt to decide on transfer targets earlier this week, and the pair, along with head of recruitment Paddy Riley, appear to have drawn up a lengthy list of possible signings.

Sherwood wants to sign Emmanuel Adebayor, Andros Townsend and 18-year-old Josh Onomah from his former club Tottenham, according to the Daily Mirror, while deals to sign former Leicester midfielder Esteban Cambiasso and Blackburn striker Rudy Gestede are close, according to The Sun.

The Times, meanwhile, claims the Midlanders have registered an interest in Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani, while the Daily Mail says the club is monitoring developments in Ashley Young’s contract talks at Manchester United.

Villa are also considering a bid for Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie, the Mirror adds, as Sherwood looks to patch up a squad that has been heavily depleted over the summer.