Aston Villa signed Evann Guessand from Nice earlier this month
Aston Villa's Evann Guessand
Aston Villa's Evann Guessand(Image: Getty Images)
Evann Guessand could make his Aston Villa debut against Brentford on Saturday after being left on the bench on the opening weekend.
The Ivory Coast international joined Villa from Nice earlier this month in a deal worth up to £30 million.
Following Ezri Konsa’s red card against Newcastle United last Saturday, Unai Emery made just one substitution in the 0-0 draw, bringing on Donyell Malen late in the game.
Guessand is capable of playing across the forward line - whether as a winger, a number 10, or a central striker.
He provides Emery with valuable versatility, something the Villa boss has often praised in players like Morgan Rogers and John McGinn, both of whom have impressed in multiple roles.
Nice assistant manager Lilian Nalis, who spent several years playing in England, told The Guardian what fans can expect from Guessand.
“He is capable of pulling something out of the bag to make the difference,” Nalis said. “If he gets in front of you, it’s difficult for defenders to get him back.
“He’s at his best on the wings because there he can take on people, dribble and accelerate beyond defenders with his speed. Evann, with his goals and assists, had a big part in taking us towards the top.”
Guessand stands at 6’2” and shouldn’t take long to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League - the same league where Ivory Coast icon Didier Drogba flourished for many years at Chelsea.
“If you talk about the power he’s got, I would say yes, they are similar, but they’re not the same kind of player,” Nalis said when asked about comparisons between Guessand and Drogba.
“Drogba enjoyed the battle of playing when he had his back to goal, a defender on his back. Evann doesn’t like that so much - he prefers almost hugging the touchline so he can see all the information he needs before making his move.”
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