Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been fluid with his team selections during the 2023/24 season.
Regularly tinkering with the starting XI has become the norm under the Spaniard, particularly in attacking areas.
Morgan Rogers, for example, was handed a surprise start against West Ham United at the weekend. It wasn’t the ideal afternoon for the January signing, and Nicolo Zaniolo replaced him in the 63rd minute.
Introducing the 24-year-old Italian proved to be a masterstroke from the Aston Villa boss after he poked home Moussa Diaby’s cutback to earn a valuable point at the London Stadium.
It’s been a difficult season for the attacker, but Emery does appreciate his talents.
What’s the latest on Nicolo Zaniolo’s Aston Villa future?
Per BBC Sport, Villa signed Zaniolo for an initial loan fee of £4.25million. However, there is a “conditional compulsory purchase option” in the deal.
It’s understood that if specific criteria are hit, the club will pay £19.2million plus a potential £13million in add-ons.
However, reports in Turkey (Askam) have suggested the Italian’s performances have underwhelmed Villa and that the £23million obligation appears unlikely.
Despite the reports, the Villa boss could have handed the attacker an Aston Villa lifeline.
What Unai Emery has done offers Aston Villa lifeline for Nicolo Zaniolo
It’s important to remember that certain “criteria” have been implemented into this deal, which could see Villa thrash out a more significant transfer fee.
It’s highly likely that appearances and goals play a part.
Emery has consistently utilised the Italian in his plans, with regular substitute appearances the norm. If he was genuinely disappointed with the 24-year-old’s performances, would he be using him on such a regular basis?
Of the club’s 28 Premier League matches, Zaniolo has started or played a part in 20, or 71 percent of the Villans’ matches.
After the West Ham draw, the Villa boss said: “Today, the players who were on the bench were focused. Nicolo is one of them. His impact was fantastic today and hopefully we can add him in this move for the rest of the season.”
Villa fans should take exit reports with a pinch of salt. There could yet be another twist in the tale regarding the Italian’s future.
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