Aston Villa target Raul de Tomas could leave RCD Espanyol before the transfer deadline on September 1st...

What's the word?

According to transfer insider and journalist Dean Jones, the Midlands outfit have "explored" a move for the Spanish forward and it's thought that it would take just €25m (£20m) to seal his signature this month.

And now, Villa have been given a boost in their pursuit of the 27-year-old, who was once on the books of Real Madrid.

Periquitos CEO Mao Ye has told Spanish publication La Grada that "there are always possibilities" that the forward departs the RCDE Stadium before the end of the summer transfer window.

Lange must act

After drawing a blank in their Premier League opener against newly-promoted AFC Bournemouth, Villans sporting director Johan Lange must act quickly to land manager Steven Gerrard another forward option.

One of Villa's biggest problems in recent times has been up top. Last season, for example, only one player surpassed the double-figure mark for goals - Ollie Watkins (11). And he wasn't even in the starting 11 down on the south coast.

The Midlands outfit enjoyed a pretty solid pre-season but doubts have now quickly emerged with the side registering only two shots on target against the Cherries, who on paper have a rather weak squad.

Their manager, Scott Parker, even alluded to this ahead of kickoff.

"It's clear that we are lacking in a lot of areas. That's just very clear. We need to work out whether we want to give ourselves a chance of being competitive this year. At the moment, that is not the case," he said (via Dorset Live).

De Tomas would certainly add a new attacking presence to the team, having bagged 17 goals in 34 appearances in LaLiga last term, fine form that continued on from Espanyol's promotion-winning triumph a season earlier, where the Spaniard fired 23 goals across 37 games, taking his total to 45 for the club, via Transfermarkt.

The 5 foot 10 frontman describes himself as being a "pacey, competitive and technically gifted goal-scorer" and has been likened, in terms of statistical profile, to a player that Gerrard knows very well - his former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez.

De Tomas is also averaging 3.12 shots and 1.24 shots on target per 90, which seems him rank inside the top 19% of his positional peers across Europe, as per FBref, so the Spaniard could help solve that problem in front of goal.

With Danny Ings misfiring on the weekend and Watkins sitting on the bench, Lange must deliver Gerrard another striking option and with Espanyol's CEO seemingly open to a De Tomas departure, it would be foolish to not deliver a tempting offer in the coming days.

For just £20m, it could be a worthwhile investment.

AND in other news, Gregg Evans claims Aston Villa could make "one more" signing...