Aston Villa can sign their next Wilfred Bouma with inspired £26m summer swoop

Wilfred Bouma... oh, what might have been. In fairness, what still was. His is a name that is, to this day, whispered around the terraces of Villa Park with fond reverence, a boarding pass to a gentle nostalgia trip that harks back to a time, not too dissimilar from the present, in which Aston Villa were ambitious and upwardly mobile, capable of luring in gems from far and wide, hungry to gnaw on the ankles of the Premier League’s heavier hitters.

In three fizzing years, the Dutchman crafted a cult status for himself in the Midlands, wooing fans with his assured wherewithal. And then the injury happened. Partway through an Intertoto Cup tie against Odense in the August of 2008, Bouma caught his studs in the Villa Park turf and dislocated his ankle in horrific fashion. He would remain on the Villans’ books for another couple of seasons, but in essence, that was the end of his career in England.

It is for these reasons that Bouma is often remembered with a wistfulness, a feeling that, through no fault of his own, he never quite cemented his legacy as a modern Villa great. Instead, those who saw him were left with a fragmented appreciation - a recognition of his pedigree, and a sore understanding of his unrealised potential.

In somewhat adjacent news, Villa are now being linked with another Dutch full-back, Inter Milan wantaway Denzel Dumfries. Granted, he may play on the opposite side of defence to Bouma, operating predominantly as a right-back, but to consider the prospect of him inking a contract at Villa Park is to immediately draw parallels between the two. Not only are they compatriots, but they are also comparable in the extent to which they represent statements of a simmering Villa intent.

It wasn’t so long ago that Dumfries was being linked with the likes of Manchester United, a scrap of speculation that, ordinarily, is reserved for the best and most sought after talent in the global game. For Villa to be mentioned alongside such traditionally auspicious company is testament to how far they have come under Unai Emery.

The uncertainty surrounding Dumfries’ future in Italy stems from a dispute over his mooted contract extension. At the time of writing, the defender is understood to be earning a net salary of around £2.1 million per year. With negotiations well underway, Inter are said to be offering the player an annual wage of £3.4 million, but the Netherlands international is reportedly holding out for a figure closer to £4.3 million - a valuation that his current employers are not willing to match.

It is in this context, and with his deal at the San Siro set to expire next summer, that Inter could be forced into a sale, and that, according to CalcioMercato, Villa have emerged as notable suitors. No concrete approach has been made just yet, but that could change in the coming weeks, and a bid in the region of £25.6 million could be enough to tempt Inter into a sale.

At that price, it would be hard for Villa to resist. All being well, Emery’s side will be a Champions League outfit next season, and what better of ensuring that they are ready for that considerable step than making a signing of Dumfries’ ilk? If they do, then the Villans could very easily have another Bouma on their hands - and hopefully one who would be treated a little kinder by the footballing gods.