Aston Villa have overtaken Leeds United in the race to sign Bundesliga star Danilho Doekhi, according to a report in the German press.<\/p>\n
Aston Villa<\/a> have had a busy January transfer window, reuniting with Tammy Abraham while also signing Alysson and Brian Madjo. Leon Bailey has returned from his loan spell at Roma, while Villa have allowed fellow forward Donyell Malen to join the Italian club.<\/p>\n Malen has signed for Roma on an initial loan, and\u00a0Sky Sports\u00a0state the deal will become permanent for \u00a321.6million (\u20ac25m \/ $30m) if certain conditions are met.<\/p>\n Not only have Villa reunited with Abraham and Bailey, they are also poised to re-sign midfielder Douglas Luiz<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Brazilian\u2019s loan move from Juventus to Nottingham Forest has been cut short so he can return to Villa Park. The deal will be an initial loan with an option to buy worth \u00a321m (\u20ac24m \/ $29m) plus add-ons.<\/p>\n According to German newspaper\u00a0Bild<\/a>, Union Berlin\u2019s Doekhi is Unai Emery\u2019s next target.<\/p>\n It has been \u2018confirmed\u2019 that \u2018Doekhi is leaving\u2019 Union, having entered the final six months of his contract.<\/p>\n Doekhi could depart the Bundesliga outfit on a free transfer this summer, though Villa aim to strike a cut-price deal this month.<\/p>\n The centre-back will be a \u2018significant loss\u2019 for Union, and Villa is his \u2018most likely destination\u2019 \u2013 ahead of Leeds United.<\/p>\n Leeds have been heavily linked with Doekhi but look set to miss out on him to Emery\u2019s high-flying Villans.<\/p>\n According to our Leeds expert James Marshment, the Whites hold genuine interest in the Dutchman but have decided to prioritise the capture of a new centre-forward in January.<\/p>\n Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google <\/strong><\/a>to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Family connection might help Aston Villa<\/p>\n This has seen Daniel Farke\u2019s side postpone their move for Doekhi until the summer \u2013 only for Villa to potentially swoop in first.<\/p>\n The report adds that Villa\u2019s pursuit could be aided by a family connection, as Doekhi is the cousin of Lamare Bogarde.<\/p>\n We have reported extensively on Doekhi\u2019s next move throughout the January window. Indeed, our sources revealed on January 8 that he is very keen on a switch to Elland Road<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, Villa joined the hunt two days later<\/a>, handing Leeds significant competition.<\/p>\n Leeds were described as \u2018frontrunners\u2019 to complete the signing of the 27-year-old on January 14<\/a>. But it is a rapidly changing situation, and Villa now appear to be in pole position.<\/p>\n Aston Villa transfer news: Liverpool raid; Chelsea snubbed<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Villa could be at risk of losing one of their best players to Premier League rivals Liverpool.<\/p>\n A journalist has shut down suggestions Liverpool have agreed a five-year deal with Adam Wharton, with a top Villa star being eyed instead<\/a>.<\/p>\n