Aston Villa are ‘closing in’ on confirming the capture of a ‘sensational’ Spanish international who has been tipped to solve the club’s defensive woes.
While Villa can take away multiple positives from the 2023/24 campaign, there are plenty of things the club needs to work on.
One of their biggest weaknesses has been at the back. Villa’s first team has consistently struggled to keep clean sheets.
This has seen some terrible results in highly important games. Most recently, Villa lost 4-2 to Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League semi-finals at Villa Park.
In the Premier League, this has also been a big issue. In 2024, Unai Emery’s side has only kept four clean sheets while conceding 53 goals throughout the league campaign.
However, it now seems that the club have identified a potential solution in Mario Hermoso.
Aston Villa close in on sensational capture of Mario Hermoso
Hermoso is a name that has been linked to Villa Park throughout 2024. The Spanish defender has been at Atletico Madrid since 2019 but could now leave the Champions League quarter-finalists on a free.
The 28-year-old’s contract is up at the end of the season with Villa looking to pounce on the opportunity to acquire the Hermoso.
According to sports journalist Nicolo Schira, Villa are close to finishing the deal to bring the Spaniard to the club.
In his five-year stay in the Spanish capital, Hermoso has made 168 appearances in all competitions at the time of writing. This has seen him play consistently in the Champions League.
In the 2020/21 season, he also won La Liga, with Hermoso making 36 appearances in all competitions. His form also saw him pick up five caps for Spain between 2018-19.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Aston Villa’s set-piece coach Austin MacPhee.
Mario Hermoso could be the perfect signing for Aston Villa
If Villa do manage to confirm the capture of Hermoso this summer, it could be the perfect signing.
Emery’s side are already restrained by FFP after losing £120 million in 2023. Therefore, signing someone with Hermoso’s experience for free would be an astute bit of business.
The former Spanish international has been particularly impressive at the back this season. According to WhoScored, he has made 1.4 tackles per game as well as 2.6 clearances.
The defender is also extremely dominant in the air, winning 2.4 aerial duels which could help solve their set-piece issues.
Back in April, former scout Bryan King urged the club to sign Hermoso when he told Villa News: “Emery is going to know the player [Hermoso] and he’s playing for a big club, so it can only be a positive signing, especially if it’s on a free.
“Villa got caught out badly at the back against Tottenham, balls played in behind full-backs, balls into the channel.
“They were all over the place. Giving the ball away, losing possession of the ball in their own half. At the end of the day, they were lucky they didn’t get beat 6-0.”
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