Aston Villa could battle a host of top European clubs to sign one in-demand starlet this summer, but there’s one problem.
Now that the 2023/24 campaign has come to a close, Unai Emery and Monchi will set their sights on acquiring fresh talent in the upcoming transfer window.
It’s poised to be a busy summer for Aston Villa, who will have their mind on bolstering the squad in preparation for Champions League involvement next season.
From possible outgoings to high-profile incomings, Villa Park will be an interesting place to follow during the domestic football interval, with one future star now linked to Emery’s project.
Aston Villa could battle Bayern Munich, Liverpool and others for Assan Ouedraogo
As reported by Florian Plettenberg, Aston Villa are one of the clubs eyeing Schalke midfielder Assan Ouedraogo.
The 18-year-old is an in-demand asset this summer, with Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle and Villa said to ‘want him’.
Sporting a release clause of just £12m, the teenager could be a jewel for one Premier League side to claim however, there is one problem.
The Sky Sports journalist says that despite interest from England, Ouedraogo is ‘still waiting’ to hear from Bayern as he would prefer to remain in Germany rather than move abroad.
Ouedraogo could be Unai Emery’s heir to Douglas Luiz
Ouedraogo is said to have a similar playing profile to Khephren Thuram and Paul Pogba, according to scouting site Breaking the Lines, telling of his talent in central midfield.
The 18-year-old German secured his breakthrough in the 2. Bundesliga with Schalke over the 2023/24 campaign, sealing 17 appearances and contributing to four goals, via Sofascore.
While the midfielder is still incredibly raw, as is expected at such a tender age, Ouedraogo could offer Emery something similar to Douglas Luiz in the near future.
Showing both a capable combative edge and an eye for playmaking, the Schalke starlet has all the skills to develop into a dominating all-rounder in midfield, similar to Luiz’s role at Villa Park.
U23 scout Antonio Mango once lauded Ouedraogo as being technically ‘exceptional’, reinforcing the similarities between himself and the 26-year-old Villa star.
With doubts surrounding Luiz’s future at Aston Villa, now could be the ideal time for Emery and Monchi to swoop for the young talent who could one day be capable of replacing the Brazilian.
While it is difficult to compare a seasoned professional in the Premier League with a German second-tier newcomer, the numbers show a traceable similarity between the strengths of Luiz and Ouedraogo.
It will certainly be interesting to see where the next steps of the 18-year-old’s career take him, with Villa surely an exciting project for the German to consider.
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