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Aston Villa are looking at a few options to bolster their defence, sources have told Aston Villa News.
The January transfer window is expected to be a quiet one for the majority of Premier League teams because of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Unai Emery and his transfer chief Monchi know everything about that after they had to part ways with two key players this summer for that very reason.
Douglas Luiz left Aston Villa and joined Juventus, whilst Moussa Diaby, after only 12 months in the Midlands, departed and joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.
It wasn’t ideal because Emery had just masterminded Aston Villa to the Champions League for the first time in decades.
But Villa still managed to get a few faces through the doors, including one option for the backline in Ian Maatsen.
Aston Villa have been scouting Omar El Hilali along with Manchester City
Sources have told Aston Villa News that the Champions League club have watched Espanyol’s stand-out defender Omar El Hilali.
The 21-year-old can play as a centre-back and a right-back which ticks a few boxes for Aston Villa.
Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash are the two senior players who are deployed in that role by Emery, with January signing Kosta Nedeljkovic` and academy star Lamare Bogarde the other options.
But Villa aren’t the only ones looking at El Hilali, with Manchester City also doing their homework on the player as they look for a long-term replacement for 34-year-old Kyle Walker.
Who is El Hilali?
El Hilal is a Barcelona-born player who has come through the Espanyol system and can operate as a centre-back, as well as a right-back.
He has admitted to turning down offers to join Barcelona when he was younger and is now emerging as a top talent from La Liga.
On the international stage, El Hilali represents Morocco and has played for several younger age groups – U17, U20 and U23, but is yet to earn a senior cap for his Motherland.
In La Liga alone this season, he has played 12 matches, nine at right-back and three at the heart of the defence, with his team currently sitting in the relegation zone, as posted by transfermarkt.
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Reds | Minutes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaLiga | 12 | – | – | 4 | – | 1.043′ | |
| Copa del Rey | 1 | – | – | – | – | 34′ | |
| Total 24/25: | 13 | – | – | 4 | – | 1.077′ | |
