OPINION
Aston Villa must make a swoop to sign Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko this month amid claims that the Ukraine international could be moved on by the Premier League giants.
Neil Taylor is the recognised left-back in Dean Smith’s squad at the moment and the Wales international has suffered with injuries and poor form for the West Midlands club this season.
Zinchenko, 22, is available, according to Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles, and it would make a lot of sense for Villa to try and wrap up a deal for him as soon as possible.
“Zinchenko’s position at the club isn’t entirely secure,” he told The Transfer Window podcast earlier this month, as quoted by the Daily Star.
“Manchester City were prepared to let him go in the summer, a deal was agreed with Wolves and Zinchenko refused to move.
“I understand that City have been looking at moving Zinchenko out in this transfer window as well and his agent has been considering the possibility of that.”
Zinchenko would be a superb addition to the Aston Villa squad this January.
The Ukrainian may be surplus to requirements for Pep Guardiola, but he has still managed to make 11 first team appearances across all competitions this season, scoring his first goal for the club in the Carabao Cup clash with Burton on Wednesday night.
He is still young as well, so if Villa are able to work out a loan deal with the option to buy him at the end of it, then they could be playing an absolute blinder because of the left-back’s potential.
Zinchenko is also versatile.
If Smith needs him to play on the left-wing, he can do that and drop Taylor back into the side – as long as he is not suffering from one of his many injuries.
Villa can do no wrong by signing Zinchenko this month, they just need to ask the question and Man City will surely say yes.