Aston Villa are apparently looking for a new playmaker, with the club interested in Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada.
The Midlands club has spent heavily this summer, bringing in Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres, and Moussa Diaby, but the spending isn’t expected to stop just yet.
Could Thiago Almada join Aston Villa?
According to the Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, Villa is interested in Argentine forward Almada, who now plays for Atlanta in the MLS.
The report claims that Monchi has ‘numerous market tracks’, with one leading to the 22-year-old, who is valued by his club at €20m (£17m).
Contracted to the American side until 2025, the Spaniard could strike a good deal in obtaining the creative talent at an affordable price for the Villans.
Thiago Almada, how excellent is he?
With four Argentina caps already under his belt, the teenager was a member of Lionel Scaloni’s World Cup-winning squad in Qatar.
Given the opportunity to shine on the grandest stage of all, the Buenos Aires-born jewel might be in line to relocate to Europe this summer, with his talents catching the attention of the Premier League.
In 21 MLS appearances, the attacker has contributed to 17 goals, scoring eight and assisting nine to highlight his final-third strengths as a creator and finisher.
For Villa, adding a talent as encouraging as Almada could reinforce the expectations set by a fellow attacking midfielder at the club, whose arrival was highly anticipated.
Fellow South American Philippe Coutinho arrived in the Midlands on a permanent basis last summer from Barcelona, bringing with him a host of memories already made in England from his time at Liverpool.
The Brazilian registered 99 goal contributions while on Merseyside, scoring 54 and assisting 45 playing in a number of roles across the front line for the Reds.
Since his arrival at Villa Park, which initially stemmed from a loan spell, the 31-year-old has netted just six goals, described articulately by The Athletic’s Gregg Evans as a “shadow of the silky-skilled attacking midfielder” that was loved at Anfield.
Philippe Coutinho, a fellow South American, moved to the Midlands on a permanent basis last summer from Barcelona, bringing with him a wealth of memories from his time at Liverpool.
While on Merseyside, the Brazilian contributed 99 goals, scoring 54 and assisting 45 while playing in a variety of roles throughout the front line for the Reds.
Since arriving at Villa Park on loan from Liverpool, the 31-year-old has scored just six goals and has been characterized as a “shadow of the silky-skilled attacking midfielder” that was adored at Anfield by The Athletic’s Gregg Evans.