Comments made by Luton Town manager Rob Edwards in October have highlighted exactly why Aston Villa cannot let one of their talents leave for Saudi Arabia.
Aston Villa‘s focus so far this summer has been on sales, with the club needing an injection of funds in order to comply with the impending June 30th PSR deadline.
It now looks like they are set to comply with the Premier League spending rules with Tim Iroegbunam’s £9 million move to Everton expected to be followed by the departures of Omari Kellyman to Chelsea and Douglas Luiz to Juventus.
Whilst this is not the start to the summer Unai Emery would have hoped after overseeing Champions League qualification, this should mean he does not have to see any more high-profile departures this summer.
With that in mind, Villa should not allow club record-signing Moussa Diaby to leave this summer under any circumstances amid interest from Saudi club Al-Nassr.
Rob Edwards comments show Aston Villa must keep Moussa Diaby
Diaby played a massive 54 games for Villa in all competitions in his debut campaign in England last season, scoring ten and assisting nine.
This is a decent return for the Frenchman who often operated as a second striker, slightly deeper than Ollie Watkins.
A real talent, Diaby played a starring role as he scored and assisted in a 3-1 win over Luton Town in October and manager Rob Edwards was quick to praise the man who had condemned his side to defeat.
Edwards said: “You keep one man quiet, in Watkins and if he doesn’t get you then the other man does – Diaby was exceptional today.
“His movement was phenomenal and he posed a real threat.
“He picks up dangerous positions in pockets of space and the threat he had in behind us today was the difference in the game.”
Diaby brings out the best in Ollie Watkins
Diaby will be crucial to Villa next season and his ability to score and create will be a real asset in a season in which they will compete among Europe’s elite.
Crucially, Diaby and Watkins have developed a telepathic partnership, with the two constantly on the same wavelength to cause opposition defences nightmares as they did against Luton last season.
Watkins had the best season of his career last time out, scoring 27 and assisting a further 13 in all competitions.
The fact this came in Diaby’s first season at the club is no coincidence, with the 24-year-old always looking to provide for the forward.
This relationship will be key to Villa’s chances of having another successful campaign and they club must therefore reject any advances from Saudi or elsewhere.
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