ibrahim-mbaye-psg-aston-villa
It's quite remarkable that this has been such a disruptive summer of upheaval at Aston Villa, and yet, Unai Emery has recruited so shrewdly that this looks like a fresh crop who could grow into a team of similar proportions.
It will take time. Aston Villa have lost all of their mainstays, and the four-goal defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening day of the Premier League season confirmed that there is much work to do.
REUTERS/Teresa Kroeger
The Villa Park side are rebuilding, and while it will take time, there's no question that they have pulled off a blinder in agreeing a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye, pipping Liverpool to that signature.
How Aston Villa won the race for Ibrahim Mbaye
In recent weeks, Mbaye's future had been a hot topic, and it seemed for all the world that he would leave PSG and complete a move to Liverpool, succeeding Mohamed Salah on the right wing at Anfield.
Ibrahim-Mbaye-PSG-Senegal
But the Reds deliberated for too long, leaving Emery and co with the perfect chance to swoop in and complete a move for an immensely talented young winger who appeared on their radar way back in January.
Mbaye, 18 years old, has already featured 42 times for the French giants, and in Ligue 1 last season, he started ten times, scoring three goals.
The Senegal international, who scored against France at the World Cup, has pace and power on his side, and there's no question that he could be a game-changer for a Villan side in transition.
With Leon Bailey expected to leave Villa Park before Tuesday's deadline, it was paramount that Emery welcomed a right winger to the squad. Someone fast and direct and dangerous.
Mbaye has so much potential, but he's still very young, and given the importance of bouncing right back after so much chop-and-change
Aston Villa submit bid to sign Mbaye upgrade
Mbaye has the world at his feet, but it's important to remember that he is still in the fledgling phase of his senior career - and that he might need to acclimatise when away from the PSG superpower who have steamrolled anyone in their way over the past few years.
With that in mind, Emery wants to strengthen with another right-sided attacker before the window slams shut.
Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye in action with Iraq's Frans Putros
Well, according to 225 Foot, Aston Villa have set their sights on Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, having actually submit a surprise bid.
Amad, 24, has fallen down the pecking order under Michael Carrick, and earlier this summer, Newcastle United sniffed around for the Ivory Coast star and were told that it would take £40m to prise him away from Old Trafford.
Amad, who is coming off the back of an impressive World Cup campaign with his nation, only scored two goals and supplied three assists in the Premier League last season, though he was deployed in a deeper berth than he would have liked - and he still won four duels per game and created seven big chances.
Moreover, he is a versatile winger, someone who has been played all around the park. However, you get the sense that Emery would streamline him in the Midlands, allowing him to
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Amad Diallo's Man Utd Stats (23/24 - 25/26)
Position
Right wing
Right wing-back
Attacking midfield
Left wing
Centre-forward
Describe as a "magician" of a player by sports writer Veronica Commey, Amad has racked up a wealth of experience at the highest level, and unlike Mbaye, who must be eased into the rigours of the Premier League, could make an instant impact and sustain it for Emery's side.
He has scored 16 goals and supplied 16 assists across 97 appearances for the Red Devils, but that does not paint the full picture, with Amad better established than Mbaye, and ready to assume a focal role on the right flank of Emery's new-look attack. The Senegalese winger can serve as his understudy for the next term or two.
Whether Aston Villa will go ahead with their move to sign Amad remains to be seen. After all, Mbaye is now in the mix - and he has the potential to become a superstar in the Premier League.
Amad-Casemiro
But there's no question that he has the potential to take on a more talismanic role. It doesn't look like that will happen with United, but Amad's electric pace and fleet-footedness when on the ball mark him as the perfect signing to complete a Villa frontline that has been put through the wringer after last season's title-winning success.