Aston Villa are having a busy summer transfer window amid plans to heavily reinforce their squad ahead of the coming season.
The Daily Mail claim Villa have expressed an interest in luring Nottingham Forest youngster Brennan Johnson to Birmingham.
The 22-year-old was one of the standout performers in Steve Cooper’s Forest squad that narrowly avoided a swift return to the Championship last season.
Johnson, a product of Forest’s academy, was an ever-present figure for Forest last term.
He played a prominent role in his side’s survival, contributing eight goals and three assists in 38 Premier League appearances.
The Welshman’s impressive performances for his boyhood club have not gone under the radar, with several clubs now vying for his signature.
Brentford, who narrowly missed out on European qualification, have already seen a £30 million bid for Johnson knocked back by Forest.
The Tricky Trees could be persuaded into a sale as they are eager to ease their Financial Fair Play concerns, but they are determined to recoup at least £40m for their academy graduate.
Brentford have been tracking Johnson since the January transfer window when they saw three bids rejected for the youngster, but it remains to be seen if they will match Forest’s valuation.
Everton and West Ham United have also registered interest in Johnson, but Villa have a significant advantage over the other suitors as they can offer the Wales international European football.
The Villans are yet to table an official proposal for Johnson, but it is understood that he is among the players they are weighing up a move for this summer.
Villa have already signed Youri Tielemans on a free transfer from Leicester City and Pau Torres from Villarreal, but their summer business is far from over.
The Birmingham club want to help Unai Emery build a squad strong enough to maintain their place in the Premier League top six.
They have submitted bids to sign Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen and Charles De Ketelaere from AC Milan.
