OPINION
Aston Villa must sign Georges-Kevin NKoudou from Tottenham after Yannick Bolasie’s shock return to Everton was confirmed on Monday.
Out of the blue, Villa announced via their official website that Bolasie, 29, had “exercised an option” to return to Goodison Park, despite him playing regularly under Dean Smith’s leadership of the West Midlands club.
The ex-Crystal Palace winger made 21 appearances in all competitions for the Villains, scoring two goals and supplying five assists in the process, so it is imperative that Smith finds a replacement for him before the January transfer window slams shut.
Andre Green is back at Villa Park after being recalled from his loan spell at Portsmouth, but Villa need to sign someone who potentially has a good future ahead of them and is available on a relatively cheap deal.
According to the Telegraph, Tottenham are ready to cash in on NKoudou, 23, this month and are looking to receive £10million for the former France Under-21 international.
NKoudou has struggled for regular game-time since joining Spurs from Marseille in 2016, managing just two appearances for the Premier League club this season.
He was handed a late cameo against Fulham on Sunday, in which he created a last-minute winner for Spurs when he delivered an inch-perfect cross into the box for Harry Winks to score.
The ex-Burnley loanee may have become a bit of a flop in the Premier League, but he is bound to take to the Championship like a duck to water as he will be able to get a lot more time on the ball and play against much weaker defences.
Villa could do with that game-changing quality in their squad and with fans crying out for the club to sign players on a permanent basis, splashing the cash for NKoudou could be an absolute masterstroke by Smith.