Aston Villa have a conundrum to resolve in the January transfer window.
Unai Emery wants to invest in his playing squad to give themselves every chance to qualify for the Champions League.
It’s been a relatively quiet window for Villa so far, though they did come close to signing Hellas Verona winger Cyril Ngonge before he revealed his preference was to remain in Italy.
The Spaniard wants to make a few reinforcements at right-back, in midfield and up front, but that could see some of his players move in the other direction.
Bertrand Traore has been rumoured to join up with Steven Gerrard at Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq while Emery is open to selling midfielder Leander Dendoncker and defensive duo Kourtney Hause and Calum Chambers.
Jhon Duran, who arrived at Villa Park for £18m last January, is another player who could potentially depart in this transfer window.
The 20-year-old has been used sparingly as a back-up to Ollie Watkins this term and did start in the 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.
Despite only playing 145 minutes across 13 appearances in the Premier League, the towering Colombian has been linked with a move to Italian giants AC Milan.
Emery would be reluctant to sell the striker without buying a replacement, or he could look to his academy by unleashing teenage sensation Kobei Moore into the first team.
Who is Kobei Moore?
The son of former Aston Villa striker, Stefan Moore, Kobei is a centre-forward who has been at the club since the age of 9.
Described as an “effective striker” by Villa’s official website, who has impressed coaches with his incredible mentality, the 19-year-old has excelled in the academy setup and has shown he doesn’t shirk responsibility against senior sides.
Since being promoted to the U21 side, Moore has scored five goals in 13 appearances, including three goals and one assist in six Premier League 2 matches this term.
It’s not his blistering form in the underage groups that have caught the eye, though, having scored twice in three EFL Trophy outings.
In the 3-2 defeat against Charlton Athletic, his instinctive finish inside the box was a sign of a striker who knows where the back of the net is while his well-taken goal in the loss to Crawley – rounding the keeper to tap into the empty net – was a show of his composure.
Moore has every tool in the box to become a good striker. He’s quick, composed when the chances arise and great at finishing.
Although he probably isn’t ready for first-team football, especially given the position Villa are in, he could be an effective long-term replacement for Duran, should he depart the club in this transfer window.
Moore, alongside Rico Richards and Omari Kellyman, are just three of the many academy talents that Emery has at his disposal.
