'I can confirm' - Club chief breaks silence on Aston Villa's Milot Rashica pursuit

Aston Villa transfer news: Werder Bremen and Kosovo international Milot Rashica is being heavily linked with a move to Villa Park and fresh claims have emerged from Germany

The transfer saga surrounding Aston Villa and Werder Bremen attacker Milot Rashica continues.

Villa head coach Dean Smith has been heavily linked with a move for Rashica, with Premier League rivals Leeds United, Italian side Napoli and Champions League semi-finalists RB Leipzig.

Smith is clearly active in the transfer market with Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Olympique Lyon forward Bertrand Traore expected to join soon.

They will follow Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins in joining Villa, the pair arriving from Nottingham Forest and Brentford respectively earlier this month.

Sign up to our Villa newsletter for Milot Rashica transfer updates

Why should you sign up?

Villa have been strongly linked with a move for the Werder Bremen star, with fans excitedly awaiting his possible arrival. With that in mind,  we will bring you all the news around the Albanian winger's future.

In our daily Aston Villa bulletin, we'll be bringing you the latest breaking news, transfer features and comment pieces, as well as the key talking points for fans.

How do you sign up?

It's easy and only takes seconds.

Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article and hit sign up. 

And that's it, you're all set. You can also sign up here.

If you decide later that you no longer wish to receive the emails, simply follow the unsubscribe link in one of the newsletters - but we don't think you'll want to.

And what's more, it's absolutely free!

You can also get all the latest updates by following us on social media here Facebook and Twitter.

We also have a free app which you can download. It is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region. Google Play Store and App Store

Villa's interest has officially been confirmed, with reports in Germany quoting Bremen's head scout Clemens Fritz as saying: "They got in touch, yes, I can confirm that."

Speaking to website Deichstube, he added: "There is nothing concrete. There are a couple of requests for him. We are in intensive and close communication with his management."

It is being claimed that Rashica, who was left out of the matchday squad for his side's cup clash with Carl Zeiss Jena at the weekend, is keen on securing a move to a club playing in the Champions League.

Villa have reportedly offered €18 million for the Kosovo international, but Bremen are not prepared to deal under €20m.

Sign up for our Villa newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here

In two-and-a-half years at Bremen, Rashica has scored 24 goals and registered 14 assists.

He moved to Bremen in January 2018 from Dutch side Vitesse.

The 24 year-old has been capped 25 times for Kosovo.