Aston Villa closing in on one signing with Dean Smith eyeing three more deals
ASTON VILLA are close to breaking the £100million mark this summer on signings with boss Dean Smith still hoping to secure three more transfer targets.
Aston Villa: Bjorn Engels says he's happy to be at club
Aston Villa have wasted no time in building a new-look squad for the Premier League after securing promotion from the Championship last season.
Smith had already secured seven signings this summer before adding a fourth central defender to his squad and is on the verge of adding another defensive midfielder.
Douglas Luiz is expected to be the next player to pen a deal with the Villans with the club expected to pay Manchester City £15m for the midfielder.
The 21-year old made the move to Manchester two years ago from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama for a fee believed to be around £10m, but due to problems securing a work permit to play in the UK, the club chose to send him on a two-season loan to play in La Liga for Girona.
Bjorn is a player that I've been watching for the past 18 months
Dean Smith
There are reports that City are exploring the option of inserting a buy-back clause into his transfer, which would allow the club a first-option to resign the youngster in the future.
Smith is pleased to welcome Reims defender Bjorn Engels to Villa Park, with the Belgian joining for a fee of around £9m.
The 24-year-old, who Smith claims he has been monitoring for more than a year, made 33 appearances in Ligue 1 last season, in which he managed to grab a goal and an assist.
“Bjorn is a player that I've been watching for the past 18 months,” Smith said.
Aston Villa transfer news: Dean Smith is looking to add three more players to his squad (Image: GETTY)
Aston Villa transfer news: Bjorn Engels has signed for Villa from Reims (Image: GETTY)
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"We're very happy to have secured his services and look forward to working with him."
Villa have already signed striker Wesley, for a club-record £22m from Club Brugge, left-back Matt Targett for £11.5m from Southampton and defender Kortney Hause for £3m from Wolves.
They are also joined by winger Anwar El Ghazi for £8m from Lille, attacking midfielder Jota from Birmingham for £4m, Tyrone Mings from Bournemouth for £20m and Ezri Konsa from Brentford for £12m.
When potential add-ons are included for the eight signings Villa’s spending is understood to be at £100m.
Aston Villa transfer news: Douglas Luiz is expected to sign from Man City for £15m (Image: GETTY)
Aston Villa transfer news: Dean Smith hopes he can entice Ethan Ampadu to join from Chelsea on loan (Image: GETTY)
Aston Villa: Dean Smith reveals 'more business to be done'
But Smith still isn’t done and is keen on adding Burnley and England keeper Tom Heaton to his new-look side.
The Clarets reportedly want £10m to part ways with the shot-stopper, however, the 33-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and it’s understood he has turned down the offer for a new deal to stay at Turf Moor.
Smith is also hoping to entice Chelsea's promising youngster Ethan Ampadu to join on a season-long loan.
The Wales international can play as a centre-back or defensive midfielder and as he has not joined the Blues club's pre-season tour of Japan, an imminent move away from Stamford Bridge is expected.