Aston Villa’s need to sign a new right-back could be expedited by reported interest in Matty Cash.
The 26-year-old defender has been a key player in Aston Villa‘s rise since joining in 2020, but the club have been linked with a number of right-backs in recent weeks.
Matty Cash‘s form towards the end of the season has not helped his cause to be Villa’s starting right-back as they attempt to navigate the Champions League next season.
Cash is Unai Emery‘s only senior natural right-back in the squad, so regardless of whether he leaves the club will be looking to sign a new player in the position.
Matty Cash linked with move away from Aston Villa
Cash featured heavily as Villa secured a top four finish alongside a run to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League last season.
The Poland international made 46 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals and assisting three more.
However, with Villa’s squad struggling with injuries towards the end of the campaign, Cash played a more advanced role at times and looked a little lost when asked to perform further forward.
When he did this, Ezri Konsa moved across to right-back but it is likely Emery will want to have Konsa in the centre of his defence next season.
Cash could end up deciding to move on rather than getting displaced in the side, though, with Italian giants AC Milan reportedly considering a move according to Sky Sports Italy having been put off by Tottenham Hotspurs’ asking price for Emerson Royal.
With concerns regarding compliance with both the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) and UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP), Villa know they need to sell to buy this summer even with Champions League qualification.
Whether Cash will want the move given what Villa have achieved in the past year remains to be seen, but any fee Villa could receive could be immediately reinvested on an upgrade.
Denzel Dumfries could replace Matty Cash
With Cash reported to be a target for AC Milan, Villa could raid their city rivals, Inter, for his replacement.
The Villans have been linked with a move for Denzel Dumfries in the past and, with the defender entering the last year of his contract, he could be available for a similar price Villa could demand for Cash.
One Football suggest that Inter would be willing to sell the Dutchman for a figure of around £26 million, which would represent something of a steal for a player that would elevate Villa’s right side.
With Inter and The Netherlands both primarily playing with a back three, Dumfries has played as an attacking right wing-back for much of his career.
This could suit Villa, with Emery at times opting to play a similar way towards the end of the season but Cash’s attacking limitations meaning this did not work particularly well.
With 11 goals and 20 assists in 132 games for Inter according to Transfermarkt, Dumfries could be the solution to this conundrum but he is also defensively sound enough to operate in a more conventional back four too.
Described by journalist Alan Rzepa as a “monster” on ‘X’, Dumfries’ boundless energy getting up and down the right wing would be a real asset to Villa and his experience of winning Serie A and playing in the Champions League could also be very useful.
Whether Cash leaves or not, Villa should be doing all they can to secure the singing of Dumfries this summer.
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