Abdul Fatawuplaceholder image
Abdul Fatawu | Getty Images
Aston Villa are preparing for the start of the new 2025/26 Premier League season
Aston Villa have the opportunity to bring in some more new faces before the end of the transfer window. They also have the chance to let some players head out the exit door as well if needed to free up space and funds. The market shuts on Monday 1st September at the slightly earlier time of 7pm.
The Midlands outfit no longer have the attraction of playing in the Champions League after they missed out on the top five last season. Nevertheless, they will still be taking part in the Europa League. They also still have the highly-rated Unai Emery in charge at Villa Park.
Aston Villa will need Leon Bailey replacement
Aston Villa could see Leon Bailey leave in the near future. As per The Athletic, he is in talks with Roma over a potential move. Therefore, a replacement would need to be sourced if he moves on.
Step forward, Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu. The Foxes could face a real battle to keep hold of him following their relegation to the Championship. They slipped back into the Football League after finishing in the bottom three along with Southampton and Ipswich Town.
Fatawu, 21, has a bright future ahead of him in the game and needs to be playing at the top level. He joined his current club back in 2023 on an initial loan deal that was later made permanent. The Ghana international, who has 24 caps under his belt so far in his career, has since become a key player.
He has made 57 appearances in all competitions and has chipped in with seven goals. Prior to his move to England, he spent time on the books at Sporting Lisbon. He mainly featured for the B team of the Portuguese giants before going on to play 12 times for their first-team as a teenager.
Why Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu would be ideal for Aston Villa
Like Bailey, Fatawu is left footed but usually plays on the right wing. Therefore, he would be a like-for-like replacement as he plays in a similar way. He is quick, powerful and likes to shoot whenever he gets chance. He has been eyed by Everton but they have since cooled their interest, as per journalist Rob Dorsett on X.
Although he is still a bit raw, he has potential to get even better down the line. It has been a tough past 12 months or so for Leicester but he has been a shining light for them. He is a worth a gamble by Aston Villa if they can pick up a decent fee for Bailey.
It would be a suprise if the Foxes managed to keep hold of him and it seems inevitable that they will lose him over the coming weeks. They have turned to ex-QPR man Marti Cifuentes as their head coach recently after Ruud van Nistelrooy’s disastrous spell at the helm. He won his first league match in charge against Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 as he looks to guide his new team back to the top flight as soon as possible.
Aston Villa need to be smart with their recruitment to abide by PSR regulations. They have been patient with their transfer plans as they wait for the right characters to become available. If they managed to get Fatawu, he would give Emery more competition and depth up top and something different to call upon in games which would come in handy.
Continue Reading