According to German publication BILD, Aston Villa's rumoured transfer target Milot Rashica is heading to Bayer Leverkusen in the January transfer window.

What's the word?

Reports over the summer had suggested the Kosovo international was closing in on a switch to Villa Park, and that Dean Smith's side had agreed to meet the release clause of £20.5m in his contract.

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However, talks broke down after Villa revealed they wouldn't be signing Rashica after all due to his wage demands. Now, BILD claim that the winger has agreed a five-year deal to join Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, and that the deal will become official in January.

Shades of Alexis Sanchez

With 11 goals in 31 games for Werder Bremen last season, Rashica was a real live-wire from out wide for the Bundesliga outfit, and was a key reason behind why they survived relegation via the play-offs.

His manager at Bremen, Florian Kohfeldt, hailed: "Milot’s taken a massive leap in the last year or so. He's got more confidence in himself and makes scoring look so easy."

With his ability to play anywhere across the front-line, and a real touch for finishing, it's no surprise to see that the Bundesliga's official website has drawn comparisons between him and former Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.

It said: "A one-man attacking force with pace to burn, the Bremen talisman has that self-same stocky build and low centre of gravity that made Sanchez such an overwhelming prospect for opposition defenders back in his Barcelona and Arsenal days. He loves a set-piece goal, too."

But with Rashica set to move to Leverkusen, Villa look set to miss out on yet another winger following Said Benrahma's move to West Ham.

And in other news, Aston Villa dodged a bullet by not signing this Premier League ace.