Aston Villa might be able to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma ‘for a cheaper fee’ in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The 25-year-old was linked with an exit from the Amex Stadium during January before staying put but could seek pastures new when the market reopens following the conclusion of the current campaign.

What is the latest news involving Bissouma?

Bissouma has gone from strength to strength since signing for Brighton back in July 2018, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most dominant engine room operators.

And his impressive performances on the south coast have reportedly caught the eye of several potential suitors, with Sky Sports claiming Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are all looking for players of his profile.

A report from The Athletic also confirmed Villa’s interest in Bissouma during the winter window, with Brighton expected to demand around £50 million for their prized asset.

However, Steven Gerrard revealed that an offer was 'turned away' for the Mali international, and now the Seagulls could be forced to part ways with him for a lower fee due to his contract situation.

Bissouma has now entered the final 18 months of his existing deal, and with no signs of him putting pen to paper on fresh terms, next summer could be Brighton’s final opportunity to receive a substantial fee for him.

What has O’Rourke said about Bissouma?

Brighton have been in poor form of late, losing six consecutive Premier League games, including against Villa.

And Bissouma put in a poor display against the Midlands outfit, achieving a lowly WhoScored rating of 6.3, and was dropped from the side for the following fixture.

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Nevertheless, O’Rourke is still confident Bissouma would be a ‘good addition’ to Villa and believes they could snap him up for a reduced price.

In an exclusive interview with GiveMeSport, he said: “They might be able to get him for a cheaper fee as well.

“But I think Bissouma, everybody can have a bad game here and there, and maybe that's what happened against Aston Villa, but I still think he'd be a good addition to that squad and would improve the midfield options.”

Do Villa need a new midfielder?

Marvelous Nakamba had established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet under Gerrard, starting the first five league games of the new manager’s reign.

A serious knee injury ruled him out of action for several months, though, allowing Douglas Luiz to become the central midfielder in Gerrard’s new 4-3-1-2 setup.

Yet Luiz has been linked with a move to Arsenal after also entering the last 18 months of his contract, hinting Bissouma could be brought in as the Brazil international replacement.