Croatian Star Baturina Linked with Aston Villa as Replacement for 135 Million Euro Star

Aston Villa is reportedly eyeing Croatian international Martin Baturina as a potential successor to Morgan Rogers, who recently transferred to Chelsea for a staggering 137 million euros. The English club, preparing for Champions League competition, faces a weakened squad after losing key players like Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne, with Rogers' departure leaving a significant void.

TalkSport has identified Baturina as a prime candidate to fill Rogers' role. However, Baturina's playing style presents a contrast to Rogers. While Rogers often utilized speed and directness on the wing, Baturina, a midfielder for Dinamo Zagreb, prefers to operate closer to the opponent's goal, immediately behind the strikers. His strengths lie in his exceptional technique and ball control, enabling him to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. His proximity to the goal suggests he could potentially contribute more goals than Rogers.

Dinamo Zagreb, however, is reluctant to part with their talented midfielder. Baturina has impressed since adapting to the team, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in 34 appearances during the latter half of the season. The Croatian club is reportedly seeking a substantial transfer fee, with figures around 80 million euros being mentioned in the media. This valuation is considerably higher than his market value of 30 million euros on Transfermarkt.

This high price tag has reportedly deterred previous suitors, including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who had previously shown interest in the player. Baturina's potential move to Aston Villa hinges on the club's willingness to meet Dinamo Zagreb's steep financial demands.