The 2016–17 season is Aston Villa’s first season in the Football League Championship following their relegation from the Premier League last season in their 142nd year in existence. An immediate promotion will be what the Midlands club will demand from the club but their season started in a poor manner.
After five games in the Championship, Roberto Di Matteo’s side have collected just five points winning just one game in the process. So it is quite expected that Villa will be in the market for reinforcements until the very last minute of the transfer window.
The Midlands club made a real statement of intent having launched a £20m bid for Hull City striker Abel Hernandez as per Sky Sports. If the Villans are able to land the Uruguayan international, it will create a Championship transfer record. Hull City, who had achieved promotion last campaign, have started life really well in the Premier League and Hernandez has been a crucial player for them having scored one and created one from 3 Premier League outings. It will be a shocker if Hernandez opts for a move to Aston Villa by bidding a goodbye to the Premier League.
Villa have long been known to be in the hunt for another number nine despite already spending a fortune to bring Ross McCormack from Fulham this summer. Hernandez boasts an amazing record in the Championship and fits Aston Villa’s bills perfectly. The Uruguayan has spent just one season in the second tier of English football and was highly prolific scoring 22 times from 45 appearances in all competitions.
McCormack and Hernandez both are highly prolific strikers in the Championship level and can easily lead the Villans back to where they belong i.e. the Premier League. There is no shortage of options up front for Di Matteo at Villa Park right now as Jordan Ayew, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Libor Kozak and Rudy Gestede all are available at the Italian’s disposal. However, Hernandez, with the momentum and form on his side, could prove to be step up on any of the Villa forwards.
There is a major stumbling block in the deal and that is Hull City’s lack of options up front. Hernandez is clearly the best number nine at KC Stadium right now and there is no real replacement for him at the Humberside club. Even if the Tigers do manage to get a replacement for the Uruguayan, it would be ludicrous to sell him considering how much value he brings to the team.
