Unai Emery is determined to land this bargain £12m Aston Villa transfer target.
Aston Villa are approaching a pivotal summer transfer window as they seek to improve their squad ahead of a third successive season in Europe.
Unai Emery’s side narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification following a 2-0 final-day defeat away at Manchester United and will be playing in the Europa League next campaign. It’s not the dream scenario anyone at the club would have hoped for but continental football cannot be sniffed at and there’s room for Villa to continue their remarkable trajectory as a result.
There have been so many names linked with a move to Villa as the club seeks to move closer to winning its first trophy in nearly three decades, especially now the transfer window is tantalisingly close. Some potential targets are very left-field, others are realistic and a few are very ambitious.
The list is seemingly endless and it’s tricky to keep track at times. But what if there was one transfer target already staring Villa in the face, one who could end up being more influential than any other? Well, there already is, and his name is Marco Asensio.
Signed on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the winter, Asensio has made a huge impression on the Villa Park faithful. The three-time Champions League winner scored eight goals and provided one assist in his first 10 appearances for the Villans, rapidly surpassing his tally of seven goals in 47 games for PSG across the past two seasons.
Asensio’s output certainly slowed as he failed to register a single direct goal involvement in his 11 most recent outings, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t continued to dazzle. The way he glides on the ball and picks out passes through the eye of a needle gets fans off their seats and his late runs into the box always cause problems for opposition defenders.
As is often the case with loanees, Asensio’s time felt like it came to an end so quickly and prematurely. But this may not be the first and only chapter of the Spaniard’s Villa career, as Birmingham World understands talks have taken place with PSG over the possibility of signing him permanently – possibly for a fee as low as £12 million given his contract in Paris expires in 13 months.
Asensio’s recent Instagram post contained a hint that he could join for the long term, too, with the final line sticking out. Sharing to his 15 million followers, Asensio said: “A big thank you for this season! I’ve felt at home since day one and had very special moments, grateful to be part of this team. We left everything on the field to fight for the club’s objectives. Proud of the effort. Looking forward to what’s ahead.”
As the transfer fee is so minimal, Villa wouldn’t have to consider their PSR restrictions too much when weighing up a move for Asensio. The club could delay the move until after the June 30 PSR deadline, anyway, so those concerns shouldn’t have an impact.
One downside of Asensio signing on permanently, however, could be Morgan Rogers having to remain out to the right wing. Asensio insisted when he joined that he wanted to play the number 10 role after being deployed on the right by PSG, so Rogers has been shifted out to the flank to facilitate that.
Rogers, recently named Villa’s young player of the season, has still played well on the right but hasn’t quite been as efficient in the final third. Emery will need to consider how he can get the best out of both players and whether the current approach is achieving that. Either way, Asensio could be a brilliant addition.
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