OPINION
Aston Villa’s defence is a major concern and even hiring Thierry Henry during this international break might not be enough to improve the lack of balance in the squad that Steve Bruce has left behind.
Henry looks as though he could inherit the beleaguered Villa defence with the Telegraph reporting that the Arsenal legend is in advanced talks with the West Midlands club and if they were to appoint someone like him, then the emphasis is really going to be on who he signs in January.
The ex-France international is not someone known for his tactics or player motivation skills – yet – but one thing that seems certain is that he can use his reputation to lure players to Villa Park, especially if he uses his relationship with Arsenal.
One player who the Villains must try to sign if they hire Henry is Gunners youngster Konstantinos Mavropanos, a centre-back who will add some much needed depth to the defence and could even turn out to be a quality future signing if all goes well.
Mavropanos, 20, is yet to play for Arsenal this season due to injury, but showed in his three first team appearances last season that he is highly-rated at the Emirates and is being eyed up as someone to have more of a senior role in the future.
However for now, the £25,000-a-week (Spotrac) Greece Under-21 international is nothing more than a fringe player and Unai Emery could be tempted to loan him out in January.
If that happens, Henry would surely be at the front of the queue to snap up the ex-PAS Giannina defender and add to what would be a depleted backline at Villa Park.
James Chester and Axel Tuanzebe are the only natural centre-backs at Villa Park right now and while signing free agents is still an option, holding out until January to make quality additions like Mavropanos should be a priority.