Moussa Diaby left Aston Villa this summer to join Al Ittihad but Unai Emery can now land a bargain replacement for the Frenchman.
To comply with PSR regulations this summer, Aston Villa were almost forced into letting go of two key players, with Douglas Luiz joining Juventus and Diaby transferring to Al Ittihad.
Unai Emery is yet to source a natural replacement for either player, which has led to a Villa expert expressing ‘worrying’ concerns heading into the 2024/25 campaign.
The Spanish tactician has attempted to replace Diaby by landing Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix, although his preference is to join Chelsea.
Instead, Emery should revisit an old transfer target, one he tried to sign during his time managing Arsenal five years ago.
Unai Emery wanted Wilfred Zaha at Arsenal but signed Pepe instead
When Emery was manager of the Gunners, he came under intense scrutiny for shelling out a club record £72 million on winger Nicolas Pepe from Lille in the summer of 2019.
The Ivorian struggled to adapt to the demands of Premier League football and turned out to be a prolific flop, providing just 42 goal contributions in 112 appearances for the club.
Pepe saw his contract terminated last year, ending his four-year nightmare in North London, while the Gunners received an embarrassingly low £3 million for the player.
A few months after signing the winger, the Spaniard was sacked in November 2019 and Emery admitted that Wilfred Zaha was actually the attacker he wanted to sign from Crystal Palace.
“We signed Pepe. He’s a good player but we didn’t know his character and he needs time, patience,” Emery said.
“I favoured someone who knew the league and wouldn’t need to adapt. Zaha won games on his own: Tottenham, Manchester City, us. Incredible performances. I told them: ‘This is the player I know and want.’
“I met Zaha and he wanted to come. The club decided Pepe was one for the future. I said: ‘Yes, but we need to win now and this lad wins games.’ He beat us on his own.”
Zaha left Crystal Palace for Galatasaray last summer but the 31-year-old could make a return to the Premier League after falling down the pecking order in Turkey.
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Emery should sign Wilfred Zaha to replace Diaby
According to The Guardian, Zaha could be made available for a loan this summer with the club demanding just £9m to sell the Ivory Coast forward.
That is a huge drop off from the £80 million Palace wanted for their prized possession five years ago, with Emery now able to secure a bargain replacement for Diaby.
During a successful stint in the Premier League, Zaha struck fear into opposing defenders with his searing pace, power and directness.
Sharing similar attributes in that regard to Diaby, the forward was capable of winning matches on his own and he could bring that level of aura to Villa Park.
Last term, Zaha saw a drop off to his usual eye-watering attacking metrics but he still produced 10 goals and five assists in all competitions, two of which came in the Champions League.
With Villa competing in Europe’s elite competition in 2024/25, Emery could sign a quality Diaby replacement for cheap, who – like the Frenchman – can play in any position across the front.
It seems like a no-brainer for the Spaniard to capture a player he adored five years ago, who can offer so much attacking thrust to his forward line.
