Aston Villa have eyes on the Champions League as soon as once more subsequent season, particularly after their thrilling run to the quarter-finals this season.
To do that, they should win their final Premier League conflict this afternoon and hope different outcomes go their means.
Unai Emery is already bolstering his squad for the challenges forward. Might he be set to raid a group who had been relegated from the highest flight this season?
Aston Villa eye transfer for Southampton midfielder
Whereas Emery has a superb beginning XI, including some depth to his first-team squad is definitely a precedence this summer time.
In response to journalist Alan Nixon, Villa now seem to have entered the race to signal midfielder Mateus Fernandes when the switch window opens.
He’s additionally being courted by Leeds United and Crystal Palace, that means Emery should act swiftly if he needs to signal the teen forward of subsequent season.
The participant would possible price Villa round £30m ought to they want to convey him on this summer time.
The Portuguese starlet can be a strong addition to the present squad at Villa Park, and he may become John McGinn 2.0 for the supervisor, particularly with the pair sharing the same model of play.
Mateus Fernandes could possibly be a terrific signing for Aston Villa
McGinn has been with the Villans because the summer time of 2018, serving to take the membership from the Championship again into the highest flight after which into the Champions League.
The Scot has made almost 300 appearances for the Midlands aspect, turning into an integral a part of their development in recent times beneath Emery, since his transfer to the membership within the Championship.
With the membership fascinated about signing Fernandes from the recently-relegated aspect, the Spaniard would possibly effectively be signing a like-for-like participant within the Saints’ starlet.
In response to FBref, McGinn is the seventh-most comparable participant to Fernandes in Europe’s prime 5 leagues, which speaks to how related they’re in the course of the park, significantly at Premier League stage.
Moreover, the pair have registered related statistics over a variety of metrics this season, together with objectives and assists (each 5), photographs per 90 (1.33 vs 1.21), shot-creating actions (each 76), share of dribblers challenged (50% vs 41.9%) and profitable take-on share (45% vs 42.6%) domestically.
|
Evaluating McGinn and Fernandes within the PL this season |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Metric |
||
|
Objectives |
1 |
2 |
|
Assists |
4 |
3 |
|
Huge possibilities created |
6 |
6 |
|
Whole duels gained per sport |
4.2 |
5.9 |
|
Key passes per sport |
1 |
0.9 |
|
Tackles per sport |
1 |
2.5 |
|
Stats by way of Sofascore |
||
As you possibly can see within the desk above, the Portuguese ace has, really, scored extra objectives and created as many ‘massive possibilities’ within the Premier League, regardless of enjoying in a dismal Southampton group.
Regardless of the Saints struggling relegation after a torrid season within the prime flight, soccer expertise scout Jacek Kulig was fast to reward Fernandes for his particular person excellence, saying:
“20 years of age. Huge expertise. One among Southampton’s gamers who may positively keep within the EPL.”
With Villa, Leeds, and Palace all eyeing up a transfer for the teen, he will not stay on the south coast for lengthy. That a lot is for certain.
In response to WhoScored, each McGinn and Fernandes rely dribbling as a serious power, which suggests they typically find yourself within the ultimate third and have a tendency to get fouled extra typically than different gamers.
Emery may do with one other midfielder who loves bombing into harmful areas, permitting the likes of Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana to do the soiled work.
On paper, he appears to be like like a smart funding certainly.
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