Monchi set for Bournemouth approach amid new Tyrone Mings fear at Aston Villa
Tyrone Mings could be finished at Aston Villa as some of Unai Emery’s summer transfer plans begin to come to light.
It has been a tough couple of seasons for Mings, who was sidelined between August 2023 and October 2024 after suffering a cruciate ligament tear.
The 32-year-old has proven a useful squad player since returning to action, recently wowing Gary Lineker in Villa’s UEFA Champions League last-16 triumph over Club Brugge.
However, new footage appears to show Mings’s better days at Aston Villa could be behind him.
Villa are already thought to have lined up a perfect replacement for Mings, and Monchi has now been instructed to approach Bournemouth amid fears over the centre-back.
Aston Villa on the hunt for a brand-new centre-back
As reported in the print edition of the Sunday Mirror (23 March, page 71), Aston Villa have Matte Smets on their radar after the 21-year-old’s form this season.
The K.R.C Genk centre-back has already been capped by Belgium and with a market value of £8.5million, Tottenham and Inter Milan have also registered an interest in the ball-playing defender.
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Goals/Assists | Clean Sheets | Yellow Cards |
| Matte Smets | 34 | 32 | 0 | 13 | 4 |
However, ex-Villa scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Villa News – wants Monchi to try and sign Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen instead, as a replacement for Mings is targeted.
“I like Huijsen at Bournemouth,” King said.
“Again, if you’re looking to strengthen that position with the fears that Mings might not be able to play a full season after his injury, I’d certainly be enquiring about a player like Huijsen.
“This interest in a centre-back can only point toward the fact that Mings might not be able to play as many games next season.”
Mings could be finished at Aston Villa
Mings has demonstrated in recent months that he does still have a use in the Villa squad.
However, considering his recent injury history, and age, Emery cannot rely on the Englishman as a starting defender next season. Therefore, bringing in a replacement should be a priority.
Smets represents an exciting option. However, if Villa could somehow sign Huijsen, that would be a huge statement of intent.