Aston Villa have reportedly been linked with Ajax attacking full-back Noussair Mazraoui, who has impressed in the Eredivisie this campaign.
Steven Gerrard joins a list of other Premier League managers who are interested in the 24-year-old’s signature, with Marcelo Bielsa also keeping tabs on his performances.
Valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, Mazraoui has been a member of the first-team squad with Ajax since 2018 and has cemented his place in the starting XI this campaign, meaning he has now featured 126 times for the Dutch giants.
According to reports in Spain, Premier League clubs have been heavily monitoring his performances over the past few seasons. Alongside Villa and Leeds United, Everton and Leicester City have also shown interest.
But what could unfold at Villa Park if they were to fend off the other reported competitors for Mazraoui’s signature?
Matty Cash to lose place?
Matty Cash is currently the first-choice right-back at Aston Villa, and has shown good form since being brought in from Nottingham Forrest in 2020, with plenty of praise coming in for the defender.
This season, Cash has featured 22 times in the league, scoring one goal whilst registering one assist. Whereas, Mazraoui has scored five goals and assisted twice in 17 Eredivisie appearances. Albeit, the Premier League may be considered a much more demanding standard, though Mazraoui could certainly add a more attacking prowess than the Polish international based on his numbers.
Both players are 24 years old, so in terms of potential there isn’t much to split them, but the Moroccan can additionally offer his services in centre-midfield – a position that Gerrard is familiar with, and could teach him his ways.
Though you would imagine a move for Mazraoui would mean some fierce competition for Cash at right-back at the very least.
Gerrard to get his new Tavernier?
James Tavernier was Gerrard’s skipper and one of the key players that spurred Rangers on to win the SPFL last campaign.
In 33 games, Tavernier scored 12 goals and registered nine assists from full-back. His attacking capabilities were vital for Gerrard and Mazraoui could be the man to fill his boots in Gerrard’s system at Villa.
Although Cash may well be capable of offering pace and support in attack, his numbers simply do not compare to the Englishman’s for Rangers.
Gerrard has a clear style of play with attacking full-backs, and for the system that he is trying to implement, he would need a certain calibre of player for this to work.
If Gerrard approaches the Ajax defender, he may be demanding more than what he currently has in an attacking sense, and having tasted success in Scotland, he will have a firm idea of what he is looking for.