Unai Emery and Monchi might have just realised that signing Joao Felix wouldn’t solve Aston Villa’s current issues.
The 2024/25 season is fast approaching, with a lot of work to be done at Villa Park before the campaign commences.
Unai Emery and Monchi ensured that a fast start was made in the summer transfer window however, time is telling of how many issues still need to be resolved.
Time is ticking as transfer rumours continue to circulate, with Atletico Madrid outsider Joao Felix a name consistently spoken about with reference to Aston Villa.
Aston Villa must tread carefully around targeting Joao Felix
Felix has been linked to Villa throughout the summer as he continues to ponder his future away from Madrid.
The Portugal international spent half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Chelsea before signing for Barcelona on loan last season.
Now, the 24-year-old is on the hunt for a new club, with it reported that Emery has made contact with Felix over a potential transfer.
Being a player who has achieved so much so early into his career, Felix would be a statement signing for Villa however, he may not be the right one.
Understandably, there are some reservations over exploring a deal for the former Benfica starlet, who currently earns an eye-watering £235k-a-week, via Capology.
Added to that, Felix hasn’t been the most consistent player over the past few years, with his development stalling following a fall out with Atletico Madrid.
Felix isn’t the creator Villa are crying out for
Aside from the financial and inconsistency concerns regarding the Villa target, it could be argued that the 24-year-old is the opposing profile to what Emery currently needs.
Throughout Villa’s pre-season tour of the United States, Emery’s side suffered three defeats and scored just one goal in the three fixtures they played.
The theme throughout the games highlighted how desperately the club must identify a new playmaker, with the absence of Douglas Luiz in midfield taking a huge chunk out of how Villa play through the lines.
Signing Felix would not only cause Villa’s finances to take a significant dent but, he also wouldn’t necessarily provide the creativity required between the midfield and Ollie Watkins.
- READ MORE: What Douglas Luiz just did on Juventus debut shows Unai Emery has Aston Villa problem to fix quickly
For example, over the past year, the Portugal international has been far from a reliable playmaker, as reinforced by his per 90 statistics.
Provided by FBref, Felix is behind a staggering 88% of those in his position in Europe’s top five leagues for his rate of 1.04 key passes per 90, telling of his lack of chances created.
A similar trend of underperformance comes in areas such as his rate of passes into the penalty area, passes into the final third and rate of assists per 90.
Such statistics are alarming for a player who could cost Villa a lot of money but couldn’t necessarily provide what’s desperately needed.
There are other options that could fit what Villa need based on their lack of spark in pre-season, with a move for Felix being an incredibly high-risk transfer.
