Aston Villa lead way for Oihan Sancet as significant update drops
Aston Villa are set to make a “significant” bid to sign Athletic Bilbao midfielder Oihan Sancet in the January transfer window, Caught Offside reports.
According to the news outlet’s website [16 November], Monchi is preparing to submit a substantial offer to test the LaLiga’s side resolve and adds that Villa have stolen the march on Manchester United in the race for his signature.
Sancet has a £66million release clause in his contract that could make a mid-season departure difficult. However, Aston Villa are currently considering whether to activate the clause should their bid fall flat.
Aston Villa are eager to send a statement with Oihan Sancet signing
Unai Emery sent a statement to the Premier League with his £50m acquisition of Amadou Onana from Everton but, with his side suffering a steep drop-off in form, it appears the Spaniard is not prepared to rest on his laurels.
Indeed, Onana has proven somewhat an inconsistent performer at Villa Park and is yet to show the form that earned him his big-money move. Indeed, he has even made a habit of leaving the pitch at half-time in matches.
However, Onana and Youri Tielemans in the midfield pivot have a combined tally of four goals and four assists in 30 appearances across all competitions this year, nowhere near the desired output for a Champions League side.
Morgan Rogers has thrived in his role operating behind Ollie Watkins, but Sancet could provide a new dimension to the Villa attack and allow Rogers to move to the flanks in Emery’s system.
The 24-year-old has hit the ground running in Bilbao this year and already boasts five goals in 12 outings, and has developed into a world-class attacking midfielder in Spain.
While Manchester United have the financial muscle and prestige to convince Sancet to reject a move to Aston Villa, Monchi can capitalise on the transition period at Old Trafford and pitch the more established footballing project Emery is so expertly running in the Midlands.
Aston Villa are still on track to achieve consecutive qualifications to the Champions League but, with only one point separating the side in ninth to third-place Chelsea, the landscape can drastically change – adding Sancet to the ranks could certainly catapult the Villans back into the top four.
In other Aston Villa news, an injury update on Ezri Konsa has dropped ahead of the Villans’ clash with Crystal Palace.
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