After a great year for Aston Villa, there will be hopes they can maintain their form in 2024. Let’s take a look at three players they could target to help propel them further.
It has been a great year for Aston Villa and Unai Emery which has seen them shock the Premier League in 2023. After 15 wins from 15 games at home, the Villans are firmly in the race for a Champions League finish.
With that being said, there are still areas of the squad that would benefit from additional depth to maintain the excellent form shown.
For example, the only senior striker at the club is Ollie Watkins who has been in superb form. In similar fashion, Matty Cash is the only out-and-out right back at the club, although Ezri Konsa has filled in there.
The January and summer transfer windows of 2024 will see the Villans target several stars. Here are three they could look at to improve their squad moving forward.
1. Serhou Guirassy
What a season Serhou Guirassy has had. With 17 goals in just 15 Bundesliga games, he is the second-top scorer in the league. Only second to the inevitable Harry Kane who has 22 goals, at the time of writing.
It is safe to say that Villa needs another striker option. Just having Watkins as the only senior option at the club is doomed to go wrong at some point. Especially with Europa Conference League commitments, a squad is needed.
Guirassy would provide a point of difference in the Villa squad and create more uncertainty for opposition players. His finishing is an obvious strength given his goalscoring exploits but that isn’t all he adds. Looking at his WhoScored, he thrives with the ball at his feet as he likes to lay the ball off for his teammates.
With a release clause of just £15m, this one seems like a no-brainer as a striker target and signing option.
2. Timo Werner
Now for another striker target but one who more closely resembles what Villa have right now. The first thought in people’s minds will be his failed £25m move to Chelsea but there is a player there.
Since returning to RB Leipzig this summer, he has made just eight appearances but has still managed two goals. This is in spite of all but two of his appearances coming off the bench, leaving him with just 200 minutes played.
In his first stint with the club, according to FotMob, he scored 95 goals across his four years which isn’t a record to be sniffed at. He has an electric pace and with some confidence behind him and the right service, he is a goalscorer. Although he isn’t on the best run of form, he has Premier League and European experience. As a transfer target, he could be cheap and take a few people by surprise.
3. Jeremie Frimpong
Jeremie Frimpong is a player who has been linked to the Villans for weeks and would be an excellent signing. The Dutchman is being looked at by elite clubs from all over the globe and would be a great fit for Villa.
Looking at his WhoScored profile, although his attacking contribution is top-class, he also excels defensively. With five goals and six assists in the Bundesliga this season, according to FotMob, he profiles like a winger in that sense.
With that being said, he has still contributed to seven clean sheets this season which is the most in the league.
It is safe to say that he would likely cost a high amount, especially in the January window, but as a target, he’d be worth it. TeamTalk reported that he would cost a fee in the region of £60m which would make him Villa’s record signing.
An expensive target but he would undoubtedly be an upgrade down the right flank for Emery’s side.
