Real end pursuit of £30m Villa star Young – for now

Real Madrid won’t be making a move for Aston Villa star Ashley Young in the January transfer window, after being told that the 23-year-old attacker will cost them £30m.

Real were reportedly working hard last week to make a deal for Young happen, but Villa have set their asking price higher than Real are willing to pay right now. Real have already spent nearly £40m on Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra, and January isn’t exactly the time to spend £70m on three players.

Real may come back in for Young in the summer, and at that time, his value could be even higher. And considering that Villa are far from needing the money, and that Young is one of the cornerstones of what Martin O’Neill is trying to build, then their efforts now and then to bring one of England’s rising stars to Spain might prove to be pretty fruitless.

Missing out on Young for the time being could mean that Real end up going back in for Liverpool’s Jermaine Pennant, as they look for inexpensive reinforcements that are eligible to play in the Champions League. Don’t get greedy again, Jermaine…

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