Aston Villa: Matty Cash faces 'sink or swim' summer at Villa Park as transfer update emerges

Aston Villa full-back Matty Cash is safe at Villa Park despite reports emerging that Unai Emery is keen to add to his defensive options in the summer transfer window, according to Alan Hutton.

The Poland international has been in and out of Emery's side this season, sharing defensive duties with Ezri Konsa at right-back, but has struggled for consistency, only picking up one assist in the Premier League.

Emery has already added to his right-back options with the signing of Kosta Nedeljković, but reports have emerged suggesting Villa have sent scouts to watch Torino defender Raoul Bellanova multiple times this season [Tuttosport, 2 February].

Despite the Villans' early transfer business, Hutton doesn't expect Emery to axe Cash in the transfer window and thinks this summer could be "sink or swim" for the 26-year-old to secure his place in Villa's starting XI.

"I think they'll keep him," Hutton told Villa News.

"I think he does a good job for the team, but there has been some rotation. If you look at it, it's a factor of what Emery does. You look at right-back and left-back he's changed them and switched them as he looks for different things.

"Even Konsa has played a full-back, he needs to bring somebody in. He obviously but he's a young boy for the future and maybe they're looking for a number one or a number two to really go and put the pressure on the likes of Cash.

"You need options all over the pitch, not just at full-back. Don't get me wrong, I didn't like it and you're constantly hearing about fullbacks coming in. It's not ideal but you either sink or swim, you either show everyone what you're capable of, or you're going to struggle.

"But I think you need that competition within the squad if you're going to push to the next level."

Will Unai Emery and Aston Villa sell Matty Cash in the summer transfer window?

It is clear from the signing of Nedeljković that Emery and Villa are planning for the future at Villa Park currently, but it remains to be seen whether or not the 18-year-old is ready to play regularly in the Premier League.

Bellanova is a more experienced player and would likely offer a greater challenge to Cash, as would Denzel Dumfries if Villa opted to explore a deal for the Dutch international come the end of the season.

Cash will have to show Emery in the final months of the season and the early stages of pre-season to show that he is more than capable of starting week in and week out in the Premier League and potentially the Champions League.

In other Aston Villa news, Tottenham are understood to hold the advantage over Villa in the race for the signing of Jaden Philogene

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