Aston Villa offered the chance to sign Udinese winger Gerard Deulofeu in January – Alex Crook
Aston Villa have been “offered the chance” to bolster their attacking options this January and sign Udinese winger Gerard Deulofeu, according to Alex Crook.
The 28-year-old, who has formerly played at Everton and Watford in the Premier League, has put in some eye-catching performances over the last 18 months, netting 16 goals from his 52 appearances at the Italian club.
Unai Emery is looking to strengthen his paper-thin forward line this month, with Leon Bailey the only recognised winger in the Villa squad he inherited from Steven Gerrard in December.
TalkSPORT reporter Crook has told Give Me Sport that the West Midlands side had been given the opportunity to sign the Spanish international, who has 18 months of his contract left to run.
He said: “I know that they’ve been offered the chance to sign Deulofeu, whether there’s an appetite to do so, I’m not 100% Sure.
“But certainly, talks have been held about that.”
Get him in
If Udinese are willing to let Deulofeu leave the club this January, Villa should jump at the opportunity to sign the skilful winger.
The club are short on options out wide after letting Anwar El Ghazi, Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet all leave the club in the summer, with 16-year-old winger Kadan Young left to fill this berth on the bench in recent weeks.
Despite not enhancing his reputation previously in England with the Toffees and Watford, Deulofeu has found the form of his life in Serie A. Last year, the Spaniard enjoyed one of the most productive seasons of his career as he registered 13 goals and five assists across 35 appearances in all competitions.
According to FBref, the winger was also ranked in the 99th percentile of shot-creating actions and progressive passes in the last year amongst his positional counterparts, so he could add a clinical edge to some of Villa’s play in the final third.
Emery is desperately in need of a winger or two this month, and considering Deulofeu is being offered up on a plate, the club need to get the singing over the line before other teams come sniffing.
In other Aston Villa news, this academy loanee must improve his goalscoring output at MK Dons to force his way into Unai Emery’s plans at Villa Park.