It’d be fair to say that after the last few windows, this hasn’t been the summer Aston Villa fans would’ve been hoping for.
After just missing out on Champions League football, there was a hope that the board would be able to back Unai Emery in a big way.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened, and while problems with PSR are the main reason why, fans are understandably underwhelmed so far.
With that said, the Claret and Blue were able to bring in the exciting Evan Guessand, and now appear to be targeting someone who’d be the perfect teammate for him.
Aston Villa target perfect Guessand teammate
Villa splashed £30m on Guessand late last week, and while he might not be a household name among English football fans, it’s a transfer that should excite the Claret and Blue faithful.
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After all, the Ivorian international managed to score 13 goals and provide ten assists in just 43 appearances for Nice last season.
Moreover, at just 23 years old, there is plenty of room for him to continue developing, and in yet more good news, the club hav identified another transfer target who’d be able to get even more out of him.
At least that is according to a recent report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, which claims Villa are very interested in AC Milan ace Alexis Saelemaekers.
In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that even though the Italian side might offer him a new contract, the Villans are leading the race for his signature.
A price is not mentioned in the story, but reports from earlier this summer claimed that a fee of around £22m could be enough to tempt the Rossoneri into selling, and at that price, this could be a brilliant purchase for Emery and Co.
Why Saelemaekers would be a perfect teammate for Guessand
So, one of the first and most crucial reasons Saelemaekers could be a perfect teammate for Guessand this season is his raw output.
For example, in his 31 loan appearances for AS Roma last season, which totalled 1796 minutes, the Belgian international was able to score seven goals and provide seven assists.
That means the 26-year-old dynamo was able to average a goal involvement every 2.21 games, or more impressively, every 126.35 minutes.
In other words, he’s as capable of scoring goals as he is finishing them, and as the Ivorian striker is similar, the pair could end up forming a seriously deadly partnership for the Claret and Blue.
Moreover, it’s not like the Milan ace got lucky last season, as his underlying numbers were superb.
Goals/Shot
0.26
Top 1%
Tackles (Def 3rd)
1.45
Top 1%
Penalty Kicks Won
0.10
Top 1%
% of Aerials Won
71.4%
Top 1%
Dribblers Tackled
1.19
Top 2%
Goals/Shot on Target
0.54
Top 4%
GCA (Fouls Drawn)
0.10
Top 4%
Tackles Won
1.45
Top 5%
Shots on Target %
48.1%
Top 6%
Passes Completed
43.55
Top 6%
GCA (Shot)
0.10
Top 6%
Tkl+Int
2.80
Top 7%
Carries
41.52
Top 8%
Progressive Passing Distance
178.49
Top 9%
Total Passing Distance
650.55
Top 10%
According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for goals per shot, tackles in the defensive third, penalties won, the top 5% for tackles won, the top 6% for shots on target and goal-creating actions from shots, all per 90.
These numbers help to paint a picture of an attacking star who can not only create plentiful chances for his teammates, but is also more than willing to get involved in the less glamorous side of things and do his defensive duties.
Finally, as the “incredible” playmaker, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, can play off the right and left, there would be more opportunities for him to play alongside the former Nice star, and therefore more chances for the pair of them to really develop an understanding of one another’s game.
Ultimately, while it could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, Villa should do all they can to sign Saelemaekers this summer.
Not only is he an excellent player in his own right, but he could also help get even more out of Guessand.
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