Aston Villa are still eyeing a certain rival for right-back Matty Cash this summer, although there is one problem.
At present, the summer transfer window has been a resounding success for Aston Villa, with Unai Emery significantly bolstering multiple positions in his squad.
Although he’s sanctioned the big-money sales of Douglas Luiz and most recently Moussa Diaby, the Spaniard has constructed some savvy business and Ian Maatsen is arguably the pick of the bunch.
Signed for £37.5 million from Chelsea, the Dutchman is one of the best attacking left-backs in Europe and last term, reached the Champions League final while on loan at Dortmund.
The Villans have potentially sorted their starting left-back for years to come however, on the opposite flank, there are still major questions to be asked.
Aston Villa have been eyeing an upgrade on Matty Cash for a while, as the Poland international struggled defensively last term, with Emery preferring to use Ezri Konsa at right-back.
This has resulted in links to several players, including one from Saudi Arabia.
Aston Villa still keen on Saudi Arabian right-back Saud Abdulhamid
Last month, it was reported that Villa were keen on signing Saudi Arabian right-back Saud Abdulhamid from Al-Hilal for £3 million along with Nottingham Forest, OGC Nice and West Ham.
Although interest never advanced beyond that point, journalist Rudy Galetti has since revealed that Villa and Toulouse ‘remain interested’ in him but it’s Italian giants Roma who see the right-back near the top of their list, advancing in talks to sign him.
Part of the Saudi side that famously beat Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, Adbulhamid is one of the most promising talents to emerge from the Saudi Pro League and last season registered three goals and four assists.
The huge problem for Villa is that Roma appear to be in pole position to land the ‘extraordinary’ player however, there are certainly better options out there in the market.
Kosta Nedeljkovic could be the answer to right-back woes
Whilst it’s clear that Villa are shopping for a new right-back this summer, Emery may have someone in his current squad who can fill the void.
That player is Kosta Nedeljkovic, the 18-year-old who was signed from Red Star Belgrade in January and loaned back for the rest of the season.
Nedeljkovic has since joined up with his Villa teammates and has so far taken his chance to impress in pre-season. He was one of their most impressive performers in the win over Walsall while against Slovakian side Spartak Trnava, the teenager caught the eye once more.
With four Champions League appearances under his belt at Red Star last term, the talented right-back has shown he can perform on the biggest stage of them all and that bodes well for Villa heading into 2024/25.
It remains to be seen what sort of role the young Serbian plays at Villa Park next term however, he’s doing his chances of featuring regularly no harm as he continues to showcase his talents in pre-season.
