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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery | Getty Images
Aston Villa have until the deadline on Monday to complete any final bits of transfer business under Unai Emery - with one rumour catching our eye.
Aston Villa have emerged as surprise Premier League title contenders this season. They are positioned in third place in the table after 23 fixtures behind Arsenal and Manchester City, with Unai Emery’s side only six points off the summit as it stands.
That seems to be encouraging them to make more ambitious moves in the transfer market than they otherwise might have done, and certainly they’ve been busier than anybody expected in advance - and they may not be done yet, with fresh reports putting them in the mix for a player who’s also wanted by Everton and Bournemouth...
Aston Villa target swoop for Inter Milan’s Luis Henrique
Aston Villa are being linked with a move for Inter Milan’s Luis Henrique, as per FC Inter News, along with league rivals AFC Bournemouth and Everton. They have the chance to bring in some more players before the end of the January transfer window, which shuts on Monday at the slightly earlier time of 7pm, and Henrique could be among their targets.
Henrique, 24, has only been on the books at the San Siro since June but his long-term future in Italy is up in the air right now amid attention from elsewhere. He was snapped up by the Serie A giants last summer and penned a bumper five-year deal running until 2030 - however, he has struggled to make an impact and may well head out of the exit door rather prematurely.
The Brazilian winger has made 24 appearances in all competitions for Inter but hasn’t yet scored. Prior to his move there, he spent five years at Marseille (some of which he spent away on loan at boyhood club Botafogo to boost his development) and went on to score 11 goals in 108 matches during his time in France to earn a transfer away after links with a number of different Premier League sides last summer. The move he ultimately hasn’t worked out well so far, though, and he could be set for a rapid change of course.
Would Inter Milan’s Luis Henrique suit Aston Villa?
Aston Villa could see Henrique as someone to boost their attacking department. If he joined, he would give them more competition and depth on the wing, and could provide Emery with something different to call upon in games from the players Villa already have access to - he’s an excellent dribbler with superb control and touch, and a more natural fit for the left wing than many of the players presently on the books.
Injuries are already hampering Aston Villa and the club may not have the bodies to deal with numerous players being sidelined as they compete on multiple fronts. Henrique is a player who would provide the depth and quality required - but Bournemouth and Everton have also been mentioned as suitors, which means there is competition for his signature.
As with any addition from abroad, patience may be required if he signed whilst he adapted to life in a new country. He hasn’t managed to settle in Italy which means a similar situation could potentially occur in England if he made the switch. That is something that Emery will be carefully considering in regards to this particular pursuit - but he will also be aware of the impact fresh faces can have in the second half of the season after the successes of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio’s loan spells last season.
Aston Villa are back in league action this weekend as they aim to keep their momentum going - they face a home match against Brentford, who surprisingly lost to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on their own patch in their last outing.
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