Aston Villa could be tempted to sign a new right-back in the summer transfer window, as Matty Cash continues to be flagged as an unreliable figure in Unai Emery’s squad.
It’s been a phenomenal season for Aston Villa, but a less impressive one for Matty Cash, who highlights one area for needed improvement in Unai Emery’s squad.
The Poland international is Villa’s first-choice right-back based on the limited depth that the manager has in that area, with the likes of Kaine Kesler-Hayden and outcast Calum Chambers not being close to the first team.
While the 26-year-old has shown glimpses of what he can offer to the Villans this season, there is a call for the club to look for a new right-back in the summer, with his recent performances not meeting the standard asked of by Emery.
READ MORE: Aston Villa fans in agreement over Matty Cash
The boss has opted to start centre-back Ezri Konsa on the right side of the defence to add more defensive stability to the position, seeing Cash drop to the bench on several occasions, hinting that the manager doesn’t have full trust in the former Nottingham Forest star.
As a result, the Villans have been tipped to search for a new full-back in the summer transfer window, with one name identified.
Aston Villa could target West Ham defender Ben Johnson this summer
Speaking exclusively to Aston Villa News, HITC journalist Graeme Bailey named West Ham right-back Ben Johnson as a player that the Midlands club could consider.
“Villa were looking at Ben Johnson from West Ham as an option as well, he’s one who wouldn’t surprise me massively on a free, he can play wing-back, and he’s defensively good.”
A product of West Ham’s academy, the 24-year-old could leave the Hammers this summer, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season and no talk of the club striking a deal with the homegrown talent to extend his stay.
As a result, Villa could acquire the right-back on a free transfer from East London, with him having the capabilities of being the figure to rival Cash at Villa Park.
Would Ben Johnson be a good signing for Aston Villa?
While the Englishman has struggled to impose himself on David Moyes’ side this season, there is a real player there to be unlocked by the right coach.
Once lauded as being “superb” and a player who is “comfortable defensively” by journalist Dan Woffenden, Johnson has the potential to be a strong candidate to usurp Cash in Emery’s XI if Villa were to sign him.
As highlighted in the table above, with statistics provided by FBref, the 24-year-old has the edge over Cash in areas crucial to Emery’s system, something that Villa will certainly want to address in the summer after a host of costly displays from the Poland international.
Only time will tell if the Villans deem Johnson to be the figure to bolster Emery’s squad at right-back, with it poised to be an interesting summer at Villa Park surrounding the position.
The post ‘Wouldn’t surprise me’… Aston Villa could move for 24-year-old Premier League right-back, says transfer expert appeared first on Aston Villa News.
