How Aston Villa plan to sign “the next Mbappe”

Aston Villa‘s emergence as a superpower on the English and European scene under Unai Emery‘s management has been staggering, and it’s beginning to look like this project could be cemented at the top.

The Villans won the Europa League last season, defeating Freiburg 3-0 in the final. You probably haven’t forgotten. With top four secure through a fourth-place Premier League finish, though, there’s no question that Emery’s side are among the best in the country.

However, ambitious plans for squad expansion haven’t come without their hiccups so far this summer. Amadou Onana is sidelined for the long run after rupturing his ACL with Belgium at the World Cup, and Youri Tielemans has completed a £35m move to Manchester United.

NSWE are hard at work, though, with Joao Gomes on the brink of completing a transfer to Villa Park.

Why Aston Villa have targeted Joao Gomes

Gomes is an aggressive and combative midfielder, someone who has technical range and a will to win that has seen him thrive on numerous occasions against Premier League heavyweights.

Atletico Madrid had pursued a deal for the Brazilian this summer, but it fell through, leaving the door ajar for the Villans to swoop in and reinforce their engine room ahead of their return to the Champions League.

A deal for Johan Manzambi has already been agreed this month, but Gomes would provide Emery with central security, with a dogged tenacity and a real appetite to win the ball back and protect the defenders.

Last season, for instance, the South American ranked in the top 6% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for recoveries made per 90, further highlighting that point.

On the ball too, he also thrives when dragging his side forward from deep, ranking in the top 10% for successful dribbles, as well as in the top 16% for progressive carries.

However, all this midfield investment should not detract from the need to strengthen upfield areas too, with Emery training his sights on an attacking addition out on the right.

Aston Villa storm into race for PSG star

Whether Aston Villa manage to complete all of their business this summer remains to be seen, but there’s no question that they have the potential to complete an all-timer of a transfer window.

It’s important that rock-solid experience merges with exciting potential, and in Paris Saint-Germain prospect Ibrahim Mbaye, Emery could get his hands on the gold standard in terms of up-and-coming quality.

According to Foot Mercato over in France, Aston Villa are keen on signing the French winger this summer, though they face stiff competition from Tottenham and, latterly, Manchester City. The Premier League trio are among the clubs said to be showing ‘intense’ interest in the teenager.

PSG have set a massive €50m (£43m) valuation for the 18-year-old, which is too expensive for such an inexperienced talent, however exciting they might be.

But his departure cannot be ruled out – the French giants are willing to sanction it, for the right price – and Villa would be able to offer him a route back into the Champions League and a clear pathway to superstardom on Emery’s right wing.

Hailed as “the next Kylian Mbappe” by GOAL, Mbaye converted five chances in Ligue 1 last year, impressive considering he only started ten times. Furthermore, he is off the mark at the World Cup, scoring a consolation goal for Senegal against France during the group stage – and what a fine strike it was.

By prioritising the revival of their midfield, Aston Villa are signing sharply this summer. But Emery needs to add a bit more flair in attack, and Mbaye has flashy attacking qualities in bucketloads. In that, he could eclipse the likes of Gomes as Villa’s most exciting signing of the summer.

Certainly, he has the potential to far outstrip the Brazilian midfielder’s potential at Villa Park, maybe ensuring that the outfit not only regularly compete in the Champions League over the coming years, but actually challenge for that elusive, inimitable trophy.

The right-footer’s directness in the danger area makes him a dangerous opponent for even the strongest defenders. He will only get better over the coming years, perhaps becoming an Mbappe-esque poster boy for the Premier League to enjoy.

Mbaye is one of the most exciting teenage talents around, and his pace and confidence on the ball have left him at the top of many Premier League shortlists.

Man City pose a significant threat in the transfer market, but Aston Villa are creating quite the project under Emery’s wing, and it could hold sway in negotiations.