Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are ahead of Tottenham and Everton in the race to sign Lazio centre-back Mario Gila.

Mario Gila has been doing wonders for Lazio, and his impressive performances haven’t gone unnoticed. The Spanish centre-back has been one of the standout performers for his team, and he now finds himself on the wishlist of multiple English clubs.

According to a report from Fichajes, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Everton are all keen on the signature, as they look to bolster their backline ahead of next season. Unai Emery’s team are believed to be the front-runners at this point in time.

Gila was a part of the Real Madrid youth setup. While he did make his first team debut for the Spanish giants, he left the club in the summer of 2022 in search of a more prominent role. The decision to join Lazio has certainly worked out in his favour.

The 25-year-old managed to establish himself as a key figure in their team in no time and has only gone from strength to strength over the last few seasons. Gila is right up there with the best defenders in Italy, and since he will only have a year left on his deal in the summer, his future has become a massive talking point.

Premier League trio are after Gila

Aston Villa, Tottenham and Everton are all closely monitoring his situation. Since he is unlikely to pen a new deal, they are ready to knock on the Italian club’s door in the summer to try and prise him away.

Villa are leading the race for his signature, as Emery is insistent on having a defender like Gila in his setup. He wants someone who has good ball distribution and anticipation skills. The 25-year-old is considered a perfect fit for his system.

Given the meteoric rise of the club, the former Madrid star could certainly consider a move to Villa Park. Lazio certainly won’t make it easy for any interested club. While they rejected massive offers in the past, they might be forced to sanction his departure this time around, with his contract running out.

Mario Gila could be available for just €30 million

If they don’t manage to secure his future, the asking price for the 25-year-old centre-back is expected to be around €30 million. Tottenham and Everton, who are also monitoring him, could make life difficult for Villa.

While Spurs do have the finances to lure him, they need to ensure they remain in the top flight to stand a chance. As far as Everton are concerned, they will have to do a lot of convincing as Villa certainly have a better project at hand.