Aston Villa will soon have their eyes fixed on the summer transfer window, with one player now emerging as a potential talent for Unai Emery and Monchi to target ahead of next season.
All of the hard work from Aston Villa’s season was rewarded on Tuesday night, as the Villans were granted a spot in the 2024/25 Champions League, confirming a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.
Unai Emery’s side has fought hard all season through injuries, a bustling schedule and the forgotten matter of adapting to the new manager, with many forgetting Emery only arrived at Villa Park in October 2022.
It’s a remarkable achievement for the Spaniard and his ambitious players, who have fired Villa back to where they are supposed to be, however, work will now need to be done in the summer to guide the squad to become one of Champions League quality.
With one game remaining of the 2023/24 season, heads will begin to turn to the circus of the summer transfer window, with a potential target now revealed.
Aston Villa could target Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong this summer
Speaking exclusively to Aston Villa News, HITC journalist Graeme Bailey shared that Emery and Monchi are admirers of Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong, a player that could cost a mere fee of £34m this summer.
Discussing Villa’s potential transfer plans ahead of the summer, Bailey pointed at the right side of defence as an area that the Midlands club could aim to bolster.
“Right back is a possibility, Frimpong is available for £35m-£40m, he’s one on Villa’s radar and one they’re looking at. He’s a very attractive proposition.”
The transfer expert continued by explaining the positive effects that Villa grasping Champions League football will have on their outlook this summer, with Frimpong being a high-calibre player expected to be in demand.
“I think it highlights the level of player that Villa can now go for, it now means they can rub shoulders with Europe’s top players and offer Champions League football, it just gives them that extra credibility.”
Jeremie Frimpong would be a perfect signing for Unai Emery
With a release clause of just €40m (£34m), Frimpong is expected to be a figure at the top of many club’s lists, with his future at Bayer Leverkusen not yet confirmed.
The player’s versatility makes him one of the most exciting defenders in Europe currently, and one who could offer a lot to a side like Aston Villa.
Lauded as ‘astonishing’ this season for his contribution to Leverkusen’s Bundesliga win by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the right-sided defender epitomises the style of full-back that so many managers now desire to have in their arsenal.
Deployed as a wing-back, Frimpong can defend and attack to great effect, with him recording a remarkable 26 goal contributions in all competitions this season for his club.
Having the adaptability to play both on the wing and as a fullback, the Dutchman could be the perfect signing for Villa, who will be eager to lure a new right-back to Villa Park this summer, with the position being poorly covered at the moment.
Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa are the two candidates to fill the role in the current squad, with Konsa best operating as a centre-back, and Cash picking up a range of criticism this term.
There are likely to be many clubs knocking at the Manchester City academy graduate’s door in the transfer window, with Villa poised to be one of the sides ready to fight for the 23-year-old’s signature.
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