Unai Emery could still add to his Aston Villa squad despite the transfer window closing in the UK as there remain a number of free agents looking for new clubs.
Unai Emery has been keen to add quality as well as depth for a season in which Aston Villa will compete in the Champions League alongside their domestic exploits.
Seven players were signed in the summer, with Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen the most high profile arrivals, but three incomings have since left on loan.
Former Juventus duo Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior will spend the season on loan at Valencia and Bologna respectively, whilst Lewis Dobbin is at West Brom.
This effectively means Emery has four new players to call upon this season when compared to last and, given Villa lost both Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby this summer, they could perhaps do with securing a deal for a free agent to bolster the ranks.
Aston Villa one of number of clubs who could sign Yusuf Yazici
One player who could do just that is Turkey international Yusuf Yazici.
Yazici is a free agent following the end of his contract with Lille and actually scored against Villa for the French side during the Europa Conference League quarter-final between the two sides last season.
At 27 and with real quality, it is a surprise that Yazici has not been snapped up yet; particularly with his former manager at Lille, Paulo Fonseca, keen on a reunion at AC Milan.
However, according to HITC, Villa are among a number of Premier League clubs who have been ‘approached’ about signing Yazici, alongside the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, West Ham, Fulham and Southampton.
Galatasary are currently believed to be frontrunners for the former Trabzonspor loanee’s signature, with the player himself sure to be keen to resolve his future as soon as possible.
Yazici could be perfect Leon Bailey alternative at Aston Villa
Despite a busy summer, Emery still lacks depth in the forward areas.
Jaden Philogene is the only attacker signed in the summer who has not since left on loan, meaning the only senior natural wingers at the club are Leon Bailey, Philogene and Morgan Rogers – who has started the season playing a second striker role.
Yazici is very versatile and can play wide, as an attacking midfielder or as a striker, so could provide a decent option for Villa that covers a number of positions.
Given he is left-footed, the 45-cap Turkey international could be seen as an alternative to Bailey; with the Jamaican looking extremely fatigued at the backend of an incredibly busy season last campaign.
Yazici was a key part of the Lille side that pipped PSG to the Ligue 1 title in 2021 and scored 12 and assisted four in all competitions last season.
The attacker also became the first player since the great Rivaldo in 2000 to score a hat-trick against AC Milan at the San Siro when he did so in the Europa League in 2020.
With the extra games associated with the newly-formatted Champions League, Emery could do with some quality depth for his squad and Yazici would certainly prove just that.
It appears Villa would have to beat a number of potential suitors to his signature, but the offer of Champions League football could well help convince Yazici that Villa Park is the right destination.
