Aston Villa are keeping an eye on Burnley winger Dwight McNeil, journalist Luke Hatfield has told This Is Futbol.
After missing out on Emile Smith Rowe, who recently signed a new contract at Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey was Villa’s primary target and the club announced on Saturday that an agreement had been reached in principle to bring the Jamaican to Villa Park.
Who are you taking?
Bailey
McNeil
Villa, however, are also monitoring McNeil, says Hatfield, with Dean Smith pushing to bring in another winger on top of Emiliano Buendia.
“I think Bailey’s the big one for Villa now. I think he’s the man that they’re really keen on,” the Express & Star reporter said.
“Of course, there’s interest in other players, Dwight McNeil’s one who’s been mentioned. We know Villa are interested in him, keeping an eye on him.”
McNeil was Burnley’s most creative player in the Premier League last season. With five, no one in Sean Dyche’s squad mustered up more assists than the 21-year-old (via WhoScored).
He was also the best dribbler Dyche had at disposal, averaging 1.8 dribbles per game. The next highest average among the Burnley players was 0.9, recorded by left-back Charlie Taylor. Villa could be getting quite a talented individual.