Wednesday, 3rd July, 2013
Aston Villa have been snubbed in the transfer market for a second time this week, after Nurnberg thwarted their efforts to sign Japan international Hiroshi Kiyotake.
Villa missed out on a key signing on Monday when Leeds United snapped up Crewe Alexandra captain Luke Murphy, and have now been told by Nurnberg that Kiyotake is off-limits.
The 23-year-old played once in this year’s Confederations Cup – in the 3-0 defeat to Brazil – but has found better form in the Bundesliga where he made 31 appearances.
His four goals and 11 assists helped in attracting interest from the Villans, but Nurnberg sporting director Martin Bader was adamant the midfielder would not leave.
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"We have made it very clear to Villa that we have no interest in conducting negotiations for the player", Bader told the Nurnberger Nachrichten.
"Such enquiries honour us, but Hiroshi is here to stay."
Kiyotake, who has been capped 18 times by Japan, has a contract with Nurnberg until 2015 with the option of an additional year.
His performances for Cerezo Osaka, where he helped secure the 2011 J-League title, had earned him a move last year to Nurnberg.
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