Summer signing Amadou Onana has enjoyed a fine start to life at Aston Villa with Unai Emery surely left delighted by the Belgian’s impact.
Having sold centre-midfielder Douglas Luiz to Juventus early in the summer to avoid a PSR breach, Aston Villa brought in three players to help fill the void left by the Brazilian.
Enzo Barrenechea arrived from Juventus at the start of July, whilst the club paid Luton Town £5 million to sign Ross Barkley.
However, the marquee summer arrival was that of Amadou Onana, with Unai Emery sanctioning the £50 million signing from Everton.
Some questioned Onana’s price-tag, but he has started the season in imperious form alongside Belgium team-mate Youri Tielemans at the heart of the Villa midfield and has now seen those performances recognised as he has been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for August.
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Aston Villa fans react to ‘deserved’ Amadou Onana award nomination
Onana has been vital to a solid start to the season for Villa, with the 22-year-old scoring twice and helping his new side to wins over West Ham United and Leicester City.
On Thursday the Premier League announced the nominees for the Player of the Month award, with Onana among those shortlisted.
Aston Villa confirmed as much with a post on X, before fans reacted to the news in their droves.
One fan responded on X: “Very well deserved. Shows the level he’s brought to the team.”
Others echoed this sentiment, saying: “Great start” and “Onana deserves it.”
One fan was keen to talk up Onana’s impact, whilst aiming a dig at the recently released Champions League ticket prices, adding: “Great work from Onana, he looks like a great signing. Looking forward to another three or four like him with these ticket prices.”
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Others feel that he should not only be nominated, but win the award, as one supporter said: “Should win it and all.”
Onana faces Erling Haaland competition for Player of the Month
If Onana is to take the prize of the Premier League’s best player he will have to beat some tough competition.
Huge names such as Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka have been nominated, whilst Cole Palmer, David Raya, Bryan Mbeumo and Danny Welbeck make up the rest of those up for the fan-voted award.
Given Haaland has scored seven goals in three games, including two hat-tricks, it is difficult to see past the Manchester City striker, however the fact Onana is even nominated is testament to his impressive start to life at Villa.
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Emery will be hoping the towering midfielder can sustain his current performance levels across the course of what will be an intense season with the Champions League added to Villa’s schedule.
