Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Anderlecht defender Sergio Gomez, as Steven Gerrard plots further summer additions.

What's the word?

As per The Athletic, the 21-year-old is one player that 'has been monitored' by the Midlands outfit, with sporting director Johan Lange on the hunt for a 'young and progressive' understudy to January arrival Lucas Digne at left-back.

Villa are believed to be scouting and assessing emerging talents across Europe who have 'first-team experience and the potential to grow' should they be brought to England in the upcoming window, with adding a new left-sided defender seemingly a priority, as well as an additional midfielder and a striker.

The club have already made three summer additions thus far, despite the window having not yet officially opened, with loanee Robin Olsen also expected to sign on a permanent deal in the coming days/weeks.

The next Iniesta?

Gomez appears to fit the bill of an exciting young prospect who already has a wealth of experience under his belt and room to grow, the Spaniard having risen through the youth ranks at Barcelona, before joining Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in 2018.

Despite making just two league appearances for the German outfit, the £9m-rated gem enjoyed a successful two-year loan stint at Spanish outfit Huesca, before eventually moving to Belgium on a permanent deal last summer.

Since then, the attacking full-back has proven a revelation under Vincent Kompany - who is set to link up with Burnley this summer - netting six goals and registering 11 assists in 39 league outings, while also averaging an outstanding 7.38 average match rating - the second-highest among the Anderlecht squad.

What is most impressive is that prior to this campaign, the £9k-per-week playmaker - who has been dubbed a "great talent" by one journalist - had largely featured as an attacking midfielder, although has put his creative talents to good use from his left-back berth.

With his roots in La Masia, the Spain U21 international had been earmarked to be a star of the future at the Nou Camp in the centre of the park, with journalist Ronan Murphy previously dubbing him the "heir to Iniesta" such is his talent.

That is high praise indeed considering the lofty career that the now-veteran ace has enjoyed, winning a multitude of honours at both club and international level, as well as being widely recognised as one of the finest midfielders to have graced the game - both of his own generation and beyond.

Although it may be as a defender that Villa view the 5 foot 7 starlet, his versatility and flexibility may prove something of a bonus, while Gerrard could well uncover a real diamond if he does opt to reinstate the former Dortmund man into an attacking midfield role.

Comparisons to the great Andres Iniesta aren't made lightly, Villa should well take note and act swiftly.

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