Aston Villa want to sign 'elite' Matte Smets amid £8.5m transfer news
Unai Emery's top priority in the summer transfer window will be to address Aston Villa's lack of depth in central defence.
Villa have shipped 45 goals in their 29 Premier League matches this season, the joint-sixth highest in the division and leaving Emery's side sitting ninth in the table, with a goal difference of minus four.
The Lions' defence has seen plenty of upheaval this term with Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres in and out of the side following various injury problems, leaving Emery with an often makeshift backline.
Axel Disasi's arrival on loan from Chelsea in the winter transfer window has helped provide Emery with another option at the back, but this signing only came after the sale of Diego Carlos to Fenerbahce.
Matte Smets seen as perfect fit in Aston Villa transfer pursuit
With Disasi's loan deal from Chelsea including no option to buy, it's likely that Villa will be on the hunt for central defensive reinforcements this summer, as Emery looks to provide competition for Ezri Konsa.
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Goals/Assists | Clean Sheets | Yellow Cards |
| Matte Smets | 34 | 32 | 0 | 13 | 4 |
The Sunday Mirror have reported in their print edition (23 March, page 71) that K.R.C. Genk's 21-year-old centre-back Matte Smets is on Villa's radar, after his "impressive" breakthrough season in Belgium.
Smets is under contract until 2028 with Genk and has already been capped by the Belgian national team, but with a market value of just £8.5million, it's no surprise to see Villa, Tottenham and Inter all interested.
With Smets' ball-playing ability from the back making him a "hugely attractive proposition" for managers with possession-based tactics, such as Emery, it's likely Villa will be firmly in the race to sign him.
Smets signing surely a no-brainer for Aston Villa
Though it's highly unlikely that Smets will move for that £8.5m valuation – competition from Spurs and Inter will only drive his price tag upwards – the defender is clearly a player worth pursuing this summer.
Smets being seen as the next iteration of Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen or Toby Alberweireld for Belgium is high praise indeed, but will also bring pressure for him to perform at the very highest level.
Though his time with Genk has seen him progress into a full Belgian international, a move to one of Europe's leading leagues is surely on the cards for a defender who seemingly has the world at his feet.
Villa's presence as a Champions League contender, and offering Premier League football, could give them the advantage over their competitors, but it seems the race for Smets will be an intense one.