Unai Emery to land right back as impending issue emerges – Three areas Aston Villa must target in summer window
With Aston Villa comfortable in the middle of the Premier League table, Unai Emery has the perfect chance to plan ahead to the 2023/24 season.
The Villans could make a late charge for the European places, although securing a top-seven finish does seem unlikely. Relegation is also not on the cards, which could leave the Spaniard with the chance to cast an eye ahead to the end of the season.
We know Villa’s owners are ambitious and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the board give the 51-year-old a healthy transfer kitty; it’s probably one of the conditions agreed upon before he joined the club.
So where exactly will the Spaniard be looking to strengthen come the start of June? One obvious area is the right-back berth. 37-year-old Ashley Young is in the twilight of his career and could depart at the end of the season.
Considering his age, it’s been a tremendous campaign from the former Watford man, who has featured 19 times in the Premier League, both in the left-back and right-back roles. Many would assume the presence of Matty Cash would mean the right-back area is well-stocked, but the Poland international has been disappointing.
According to Whoscored, Young has managed more clearances, has been dribbled past less, and completed more blocks per 90 minutes. Granted, Cash does outperform the veteran in terms of tackles and interceptions, but it’s marginal. Furthermore, in an attacking sense, Young has outshone the 25-year-old.
He has managed more shots per game, more key passes, and is fouled more often. He also loses possession less. If he is to call time at the end of the season, a top-quality full-back to compete with Cash is an absolute must. It’s an impending problem which could catch Emery unaware unless another right back is signed.
Another area the Villa boss will be looking to improve is in the centre-forward position. Danny Ings’ departure has left a gaping hole which does need filling. Ollie Watkins’ recent form has been sensational, but he cannot be expected to carry the Villans’ goalscoring burden for much longer.
Jhon Duran is still adapting to life in the Premier League and is definitely due a goal. According to Wyscout, he’s managed an expected goals of 0.54. Essentially, according to his small sample size, he should be hitting the back of the net every two games. Unfortunately, his 33 per cent shot accuracy is letting him down.
The 19-year-old is still in the early part of his career and there’s a chance he will develop over the coming seasons. Emery will instead be looking for a proven forward to complement Watkins. La Gazzetta dello Sport claim (9 March) Tammy Abraham is of interest to the Villans. A player of his calibre would be exactly what Emery is after. Even if the 25-year-old doesn’t return to Villa Park, the top of the pitch is an area we anticipate the Spaniard to look at.
Finally, the Villans could look to add another top-quality central defender to their ranks. Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa have been immense, but have passed through the season without any significant competition. Calum Chambers has made the odd substitute appearance, but he’s not the man to take the club to the next level.
The Times reported on 18 February that Aston Villa are trying to tie up a deal for Ibrahima Bamba. The 20-year-old Vitoria Guimaraes defender has amassed the fifth-highest number of interceptions in the Primeira Liga and would be a younger alternative for Emery.
Diego Carlos, who is due to return soon, is now 30; Mings is also the same age. The board must think ahead and a proactive move for Bamba could save them from scrambling to land a lesser player in two or three years’ time.
In other Aston Villa news, players could now be fighting for their futures at Villa Park with a mid-table finish all but secured.