Aston Villa Eye Galatasaray’s Brazilian Star: Can Emery Fit Him Without Risking PSR Compliance?

Turkish outlet Fanatik reports that Villa definitely want the 26-year-old, with negotiations expected to ramp up over the next few weeks. Aston Villa eye Brazilian gem as summer transfer race gains momentum Representatives from Villa were recently spotted in Istanbul to get a closer look at Sara’s tactical discipline and his ability to handle high-pressure matches, per Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte. With 11 goal contributions in 42 games this season, Sara is a key figure for the Turkish giants and remains under contract until June 2029.

The numbers back up the hype as his non-penalty xG ranks in the top 81st percentile of Süper Lig players, while his creative output puts him in the top 6% of all midfielders in the league. Galatasaray hold all the cards with several years left on his deal; they’ve set a €30m floor for talks, though many expect the final price to hit €40m. While Villa, Everton , and Tottenham are all keen on him from the Premier League, Napoli are also monitoring him as a top European target.

Sunderland and Fulham looked at him in January, but nothing stuck. Sara’s stock rose even higher recently after earning his first Brazil call-up, giving Galatasaray even more leverage at the table. Sara’s strengths and weaknesses as a profile for Villa Park It is Sara’s left-footed vision and versatility that make him such a draw.

He’s a high-volume passer, averaging over 50 balls a game with an 87% success rate, and he isn’t afraid to take risks, clocking 2. 64 key passes per match. Throughout 2025/26, he sat in the top 10% for shots, shot-creating actions, and ball progression.