View: Aston Villa should swoop on Marcus Thuram after transfer admission
Aston Villa have been handed a transfer boost in their pursuit of forward Marcus Thuram following an admission by one of his coaches – and Unai Emery should strike while the iron is hot.
The Borussia Monchengladbach player has long been heavily linked with a move to the West Midlands, and with seven months left on his contract in Germany, January could prove the perfect opportunity for Villa to sign the highly touted attacker. [Milan Live]
Thuram is currently at the World Cup with France after receiving a late call-up from Didier Deschamps, and this is just a reward for a stunning season thus far, having netted 13 times and created four goals from just 18 appearances this season.
The 25-year-old son of World Cup legend Lilian Thuram has a number of Premier League suitors interested in his services, including the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle, and it seems increasingly likely he will part ways in the January transfer window. [MilanLive]
“I think it will be difficult for him to stay at Gladbach because if he continues to score so many goals it is certain that he will have many offers in Italy or Spain or England,” Gladbach’s assistant coach Oliver Neuville told Radio Sportiva, as reported by Sport Witness .
“You also have to be a bit realistic. I hope he stays here at Monchengladbach, but now he has also been called up by the French national team for the World Cup. It will be difficult for him to extend his contract, I hope so, but the chances are slim.”
For Emery, Thuram represents the perfect first signing.
Entering the latter stages of his current contract, and Gladbach likely to cash in for the forward before losing him on a free, Villa could get him for a snippet of his potential value.
The Frenchman is renowned for his pace while dribbling with the ball and is also a potent finisher, which marks him as an ideal acquisition for Villa.
Although Emery already has Danny Ings, Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey as attacking options, Thuram could provide the clinical edge that the Villans have lacked so far this season, whilst suiting the split striker role the Spanish manager likes to incorporate.
He’s bang in form, available for a modest price, and suits Emery’s formation perfectly. There’s not much to dislike about Thuram in a Claret and Blue shirt.
In other news, Matty Cash stunned by Danny Ings after quick start under Unai Emery.