Marvelous Nakamba is ‘99 per cent’ certain to join Luton Town on a permanent basis from Aston Villa after Rob Edwards’ side were promoted to the Premier League.

So says a source close to the former Club Brugge midfielder, speaking to Zimbabwean publication H Metro.

Marvelous Nakamba fell out of favour at Aston Villa following the signings of Boubacar Kamara and Leander Dendoncker last summer, but was a man reborn after moving to Luton on loan during the January transfer window.

Nakamba did not miss a single minute in the play-offs, featuring for the full 120 as The Hatters defeated Coventry City at Wembley.

“He’s brilliant isn’t he. He’s absolutely brilliant,” Kenilworth Road team-mate Tom Lockyer told Luton Today.

“(Nakamba) has been fantastic. He’s such a nice guy off the pitch and then, on the pitch, I just need to tell him where I want him, keep talking to him – ‘left or right, go here, press here, do this’ – and then just let him go.

Aston “And when he does go, it’s brilliant to see.

“He just tackles anything in sight. He has been one hell of a signing. I’m not sure who got him in in January, but I’d give them a little bottle of red or something as it makes my job a lot easier!”

Marvelous Nakamba leaving Aston Villa

With just one year left on his contract, and with Aston Villa looking to bring in Tyler Adams from relegated Leeds United, Unai Emery is unlikely to stand in Nakamba’s way as Luton look to turn his loan deal into a permanent transfer.

“The deal is now almost done,” the source explains. “I will say it is now at 99 per cent.”

“What is only left is the completion of the paperwork. But Nakamba has made it clear he doesn’t want to be anywhere else next season, besides Luton.”

Aston Villa secured a return to European football after over a decade away last term, and are thinking big in the transfer market. Manuel Ugarte and Marco Asensio may have chosen the riches of PSG instead, but Villa remain in pursuit of Adams, Pau Torres, Nico Williams and Federico Chiesa.