Qudus SalihuAston Villa are now weighing up a move to sign a free-scoring striker this summer as they look to add more firepower to their ranks in the wake of Jhon Duran’s exit, it has been reported, with the Villans one of two Premier League clubs showing an interest.
Aston Villa’s striker problems
Forwards dominated Aston Villa’s transfer window discussions in January, with a series of changes across Unai Emery‘s frontline taking place over the course of the window.
The Midlands side are currently eighth in the Premier League, five points outside the Champions League qualification spots, and have looked to add more goals to their side for the second half of the season.
They agreed a deal to sign Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund early in the window, in a permanent deal that was balanced out by Jaden Philogene’s departure to Ipswich Town.
Then, their focus turned to loans and after failing with a move for Joao Felix, they ultimately ended the window having brought in Marcus Rashford and Marcos Asensio for the remainder of the campaign, with the club having a £40m option to buy on Rashford should he impress after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
However, they did lose Duran, with the Colombian forward joining Al-Nassr in a blockbuster deal, while Ollie Watkins had interest from Arsenal though no deal materialised.
The upshot of their January window is that they now have no obvious alternative to Watkins; all of Rashford, Asensio and Malen can play centrally but the trio all prefer to play in the wide areas, with none a natural number nine.
Qudus Salihu
ZHAKE
admin