Aston Villa are working behind the scenes on a deal to sign Ismaila Sarr, claims former defender Alan Hutton.
Sarr almost joined Villa in the summer in a deal worth £25m before a move collapsed, with the Villans withdrawing from negotiations after a medical had already been arranged.
Sky Sports reported the problems emerged after a deal for Cameron Archer or Kortney Hause joining Watford on loan wasn’t agreed upon.
Villa never signed an alternative winger, meaning either Emiliano Buendia or Ollie Watkins were deployed in unfamiliar roles, while a change of formation to a narrow diamond in midfield was used recently by Unai Emery.
The unsettled nature of the Spaniard’s team has driven Hutton’s belief that a deal is being resurrected behind the scenes, with the new manager wanting more attacking threat.
Hutton told Football Insider: “I do not think it will be off the table,
“He went to the World Cup and he has produced on the highest stage. It is something they will probably be monitoring and looking at.
“I think he gives you that explosiveness, that pace that I think Leon Bailey can’t give you at times in games. It is another option.
“There is obviously something going on behind the scenes.”
TIF Thoughts on Hutton’s comments…
Villa looked to have found their feet under Emery after winning back-to-back league games for the first time all season prior to the league’s hiatus, but a consistent attacking presence is still found wanting.
Surprisingly, Buendia has featured in every league game this season, with only Emiliano Martinez and Ezri Konsa also able to brag that, but his total of 727 minutes is just the 11th-highest in the squad.
Out of Villa’s squad for the players with the most league minutes this season, Watkins is the only forward in the top eight, showing just how stunted any attacking connection and momentum has been.
We think bringing in Sarr would see a proven Premier League talent come into the squad and be a reliable attacking option, with him previously registering 18 goal involvements in 50 outings for a twice-relegated Hornets side.
That output of over a goal contribution every three games would surely increase in a Villa side that is a lot more adept than previous Watford Premier League sides he has played in.