Aston Villa's €20m hunt for Restes faces Napoli, Ipswich challenge

Aston Villa have opened negotiations to acquire 21‑year‑old Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes for a fee reported at €20 million, with Napoli and newly promoted Ipswich Town also circling the French prodigy in a three‑way tug‑of‑war. The deal remains complex as Villa seek to secure the shot‑stopper before rivals intervene.

Emiliano Martínez’s future at Villa Park is uncertain, and Unai Emery needs a modern number one to either replace him or provide competition, making Restes an attractive target. Restes logged 33 Ligue 1 starts last season, kept nine clean sheets and made 85 saves, showing consistency for a 21‑year‑old.

The French keeper also recorded 18 sweeper actions, operates from a 188 cm frame and already earned 14 caps for the France U21 side, fitting Emery’s demand for a ball‑playing goalkeeper who can sweep behind a high line. His Europa League experience with Toulouse adds a European pedigree.

Toulouse have set a minimum price of €20 million and have indicated they will not consider offers below that level, turning the negotiation into a premium package. Napoli and Villa can promise Champions League football, while Ipswich Town, under Gary O’Neil, offers a lower‑pressure environment for the young shot‑stopper.

If Villa secure Restes, they lock in a long‑term solution at the back and potentially profit from his sell‑on value; for Restes, the move would provide a step up to a club competing in Europe and a chance to cement his place as a first‑choice goalkeeper.