Aston Villa have told Nice to forget about signing Ghana star Jordan Ayew on loan.
The striker scored seven Premier League goals last season and he has been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer. A host of Premier League clubs have been tracking the Ghana international, including Bournemouth, Southampton and West Ham.
However, it is Nice who have made the first concrete approach after contacting Aston Villa about a possible loan move. The French club are aware of Ayew’s eagerness to play top-flight football next season following Aston Villa’s relegation to the Championship and as a result they have offered him the chance to join them for the year.
But, according to sources in France, Aston Villa have no plans to let Ayew leave on loan during the current transfer window. Instead the Championship club would only consider letting the 24-year-old leave as part of a permanent deal.
Aston Villa shelled out around £10m to sign Ayew from Lorient last summer and they are keen to recoup that fee.
That decision has put a dent to Nice’s hopes of signing the Ghanaian on loan and they are now expected to rethink their plans.
The Ligue 1 club had made Ayew their number one attacking target this summer due to his proven track record in French football. The striker scored 40 goals in France before moving to England in 2015, including 13 during his final season with Lorient.
However, if a deal cannot be struck for Ayew, then Nice are ready to pounce for Bordeaux striker Enzo Crivelli.