Anthony Onifade

Mon 31 July 2023 14:10, UK

Aston Villa academy product Lamare Bogarde is attracting interest from Championship side Southampton, and the Villans hold a crucial decision to make regarding his long-term future.

According to journalist Jacque Talbot (31 July), taking to his personal Twitter account, the Saints are eyeing up a move for the 19-year-old Bodymoor Heath wonder as a potential replacement for Romeo Lavia.

It is believed Aston Villa are reluctant to allow Bogarde to leave on a permanent deal and the Saints have asked about a permanent transfer.

However, Villa would rather let the teenager leave on loan and compete at a high level before coming back into the fold in the future down the line.

Talbot, wrote: “Hear Southampton are looking at Lamare Bogarde ahead of the new season, with the side believing that the 19-year-old Aston Villa midfielder could offer a respite if the side were to sell Romeo Lavia, who’s likely to move to Liverpool.”

The Dutch centre-back, who can also play in central midfield, switched Bodymoor Heath’s academy for Joey Barton’s League 1 outfit Bristol Rovers in the January transfer window and has gone from strength to strength ever since after an impressive loan spell.

Bogarde, 19, delivered some strong performances for Bristol Rovers in several positions showcasing the hallmarks of a growing midfield talent looking to possess a footballing IQ of a player far beyond his years.

In his 18 games for the club, Bogarde impressively averaged 1.8 tackles per game, 0.7 interceptions, and won 57% of his ground duels and 51% of his total duels, while registering 0.5 key passes and creating two big chances from his deep midfield position [SofaScore].

What could make the Dutchman such a useful player at Villa Park is his versatility to play anywhere across the back line or even in the engine room, as he has proven at Bristol Rovers.

And while those opportunities may not come at Villa Park this season, Aston Villa certainly have a crucial decision to make on his future and a move to Southampton seems an attractive and brilliant next step for him to hone his craft and rapidly advance his development.

Russell Martin, the Saint’s new manager is now to adopt an attractive and proactive brand of football while placing an emphasis on possession and progressing the ball from deep.

Bogarde through his defensive work both in midfield and centre-back could well be aided considerably through this system and could learn so much from the former Swansea City manager which could stand him in good stead for when he’ll potentially return from a season-long loan.

While it’s an exciting plan for Unai Emery to keep the 19-year-old wonder in an around the first-team squad, Bogarde is a player who will need minutes in his legs, given his crucial position and a move to St Mary’s seems a no-brainer move for him.

Aston Villa must provide him with that stunning and progressive new platform, it could be one of their most critical and best decisions yet this summer.

In other Aston Villa news, one Villa Park defender will have forced Emery into an easy decision heading into the new campaign after what he did in pre-season.