One player linked with a move to Aston Villa once received high praise from Champions League-winning manager Jose Mourinho.
The summer transfer window has been incredibly busy for Aston Villa, with no sign of slowing down indicated by Unai Emery or Monchi.
So far, the Villans have welcomed seven new faces with £50m Amadou Onana representing the most expensive arrival.
While Emery has sanctioned a lot of change this window, the latest player linked to the club hints that the Spaniard is not yet satisfied with the summer’s business.
- READ MORE: Aston Villa keeping ‘close eye’ on Liverpool star who would be ‘ideal fit’ for Unai Emery’s side
Aston Villa target Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante
Out of the players Villa have signed, three resemble midfield arrivals with Onana, Enzo Barrenechea and Ross Barkley captured to bolster the engine room.
With Douglas Luiz’s departure to contend with, it’s clear why Emery wants to focus on the midfield as a position to strengthen.
Now, Villa have been linked to another midfielder as Roma ace Bryan Cristante has been approached by the Midlands club.
Journalist Ilario Di Giovambattista took to X to report Roma’s reaction to Villa offering €20m plus a bonus for Cristante.
It’s understood that the Italian is ‘highly respected’ by Monchi, who was behind Roma signing the 29-year-old from Atalanta.
The most interesting part of the report is that Roma consider the midfielder as ‘transferable’, with the belief that every player has a price in Rome.
What Jose Mourinho once said about Cristante
Being a player who is statistically comparable to Onana, via FBref, is one way to judge the Villa target but, what do those who have worked with Cristante think of him?
Jose Mourinho has coached an abundance of world-class talent during his time as a manager, with the Italy international being one.
Whilst at Roma, the formidable coach waxed lyrical about the Villa target, as relayed by Roma Press.
“Unfortunately we only have one Cristante. If there were three or four versions of him they would all play,” Mourinho said.
“However, we only have one and he is a great example for the others, he plays with a very high concentration without any kind of superficiality.”
Such praise from one of the best coaches in world football is encouraging, particularly for Emery who could solve his midfield woes with Cristante.
The Euro 2020 winner is deployable in both defensive midfield and in central defence, telling of the security he could add to Emery’s engine room in the absence of Luiz and the injured Boubacar Kamara.
Given Mourinho’s glowing evaluation of his former player, it would be fascinating to see the 29-year-old join the boss’ project at Villa Park.
