Aston Villa Set To Raid Serie A For 22-Year-Old Defender: Is He The Perfect Left-Footed Cover For Pau Torres?

News outlet Gazzetta di Modena has sparked a transfer frenzy this New Year’s Eve. The report suggests that Aston Villa and Bournemouth are actively tracking Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic.

The Italian publication identifies the Bosnian centre-back as a top target for Premier League suitors. This interest comes as the January 2026 window approaches.

Aston Villa and Bournemouth compete for Tarik Muharemovic

Tiago Pinto is reportedly driving Bournemouth’s interest by tapping into his deep Serie A connections. He sees Muharemovic as a potential bargain, much like the Dean Huijsen deal.

Bournemouth bought Huijsen for €20m in 2024 and sold him to Real Madrid for a massive €60m last summer. They hope to pull off that kind of profit again.

SASSUOLO, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Tarik Muharemovic of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and ACF Fiorentina at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on December 06, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Muharemovic arrived at Sassuolo for just €3m earlier this year. This followed his time coming through the Juventus Next Gen setup. His quick progress has caught the eye of Europe’s top clubs. Villa and Bournemouth are leading the Premier League interest, but Inter Milan and Juventus are also keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.

Juventus have a major advantage here. They kept a 50% sell-on clause. This basically lets them bring the defender back at half price. Gazzetta di Modena suggests the Italian giants want to wrap up a deal in January.

They want to beat the rush before a bidding war starts next summer. So, Villa need to move fast if they want to bring the defender to the Midlands. Meanwhile, reports have also claimed that Aston Villa and Chelsea intend to compete for Bologna striker Santiago Castro.

Tarik Muharemovic: The Left-Footed solution?

Unai Emery’s system needs very specific players. Muharemovic is a perfect match for that style. Standing at 1.87m, the defender is strong in the air and has the skill to play out from the back. Just as importantly, he is left-footed. This makes the Bosnian man a great backup or long-term partner for Pau Torres.

Villa’s squad depth in December 2025 shows they need more bodies. Tyrone Mings is struggling with ongoing fitness problems this winter. Meanwhile, the team are busy competing in several different competitions. Since they are spread thin, Emery needs a dependable option on the left side of the central defence.

Muharemovic is great at cutting out passes and reading the game. These qualities work well with Villa’s high defensive line. His stats for Sassuolo this season show a defender who steps up to challenge attackers instead of backing off.

Still, the Premier League is much faster than Serie A. The Bosnian centre-back might need some time to get used to the physical side of English football. In terms of tactics, Emery could use him to start attacks with forward passes. This would let him play a similar role to Torres.

Looking at the chances of a move, Villa’s spot as a Europa League team gives them the advantage over Bournemouth. Even so, the Juventus clause make things tricky.

If Juventus decide to bring him back, they have the upper hand financially. All that said, Villa still have a real shot if they go in with a big offer. A high price might convince Sassuolo to sell right away. Emery’s history of making defenders better could be what convinces the player to join.