One new Aston Villa signing could take inspiration from an Unai Emery favourite after his performances at Villa Park in 2023/24.
The 2024/25 campaign will be an exciting one for Aston Villa, who return to Champions League action.
Unai Emery’s side secured a fourth-place finish last season to secure their position in next term’s tournament although, the squad could look very different after the summer.
Two big departures have already been discussed at Villa, with Douglas Luiz and Jhon Duran looking set to leave, seeing Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior arrive.
While there are mixed feelings around the Luiz deal, Villa fans should get excited about the pending arrival of Iling-Junior.
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Samuel Iling-Junior could seek inspiration from Morgan Rogers
The 20-year-old winger is far from being a starter at Juventus, securing just four starts over the 2023/24 campaign on the left wing.
Naturally, there will be some reservations regarding his suitability to the Premier League however, Villa fans should have an open mind considering the success of another Emery signing who was doubted.
When Morgan Rogers arrived at Villa Park in January, there was an assumption that the Championship ace would take some time to fit in.
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The Englishman’s route to the starting XI was fast tracked due to injuries within the squad, which ultimately allowed him to prove his worth to Emery and the top flight.
Rogers ended the campaign as a firm starter in Emery’s favoured line-up, dazzling with his fearless displays in the Premier League.
While the jump from being an outsider in Serie A to the Premier League could seem daunting to Iling-Junior, the former Chelsea academy jewel only needs to look at Rogers for inspiration to thrive.
Iling-Junior can offer Aston Villa a lot
The Englishman, who is valued at £13m by Juventus, has many attributes that could bolster Emery’s squad in attack.
The Villa target was once dubbed an ‘assist machine’ by journalist Michele Neri, via TNT Sports, telling of his quality in the final third.
Iling-Junior ended last season ranking in the top 3% in Serie A for his average of 2.11 key passes per 90, reinforcing what he can add to Emery’s ambitious front line, via FBref.
The 20-year-old should certainly consider Rogers’ rise to prominence at Villa a prospect that can be followed, with the manager the type of coach to reward good performances.
It will be interesting to see how Iling-Junior’s talents translate in the Premier League after spending the entirety of his senior career away from England, with plenty of room for a come up under Emery at Villa Park.
