Jonty Banks

Mon 8 May 2023 18:10, UK

Unai Emery’s need to sign a wide attacker at Aston Villa this summer has been well documented, and Harvey Barnes could be the missing piece of the puzzle at Villa Park.

The Daily Mail (4 May) reported that Barnes could follow James Maddison out of the exit door at Leicester City this summer, with numerous Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, after his services.

The 25-year-old was valued as high as £60million when Newcastle came snooping last year, but Aston Villa and Spurs have seemingly not been put off by this price, with both clubs watching his developments closely.

The English winger took his Premier League goal tally to 12 goals with a brace against Fulham on Monday (8 May), with the 25-year-old the Foxes’ top-scorer this term.

Speaking to Football Insider (6 May), Agbonlahor gave Barnes his seal of approval, labelling the attacker a potential “superstar” in the making.

“I really like him. He’s a little bit of good coaching away from being a superstar, in my opinion,” he said.

“I think that under Emery, he can be a top player and a regular England international. I would pay £50million for him this summer, definitely.”

Barnes’ clinical edge in front of goal has been evident this term, with the Opta-powered stats from FBREF highlighting him as a player who isn’t afraid to have a pop at goal.

Over the last year and in comparison to wingers in the top-five European leagues, Barnes is in the 81st percentile for goals per 90 (0.39) and the 83rd percentile for shots on target (1.04 per 90). The Leicester attacker is also in the top 25% of wingers for goals per shot on target and non-penalty expected goals.

This is in stark comparison to Villa’s current first-team option Leon Bailey, who has struggled with a combination of injuries and poor form this season. From the table of stats below, the Jamaican international only comes out on top in one statistical category for shooting: Shots from free kicks (0.15 per 90).

The forward-thinking areas that Barnes has taken up for Leicester over this season are also obvious to see, with the winger sitting in the top 25% of attackers for progressive passes received (9.25 per 90) and carries into the final third (2.63 per 90).

The one stumbling block in Villa’s quest for Barnes is his current contract, which keeps him at the King Power Stadium until 2025.

Barnes is clearly a brilliant option for the club to pursue this summer, and he looks ready-made to slot into Emery’s favoured wide attacker role alongside Ollie Watkins next term.

In other Aston Villa news, the Villans have been backed to complete one major deal in the summer after an update from Fabrizio Romano.