Tutto Mercato Web has recently stated that Aston Villa are set to battle Leicester City in pursuit of Olympique Marseille winger Florian Thauvin this summer. It is believed that Marseille are demanding €15m for their prized asset with the Villans holding ‘a strong interest’ in recruiting him during this summer transfer period.
Thauvin’s Frustrating Season In French Football
The Orleans-born playmaker endured a difficult season at the south of France as he was sidelined for all but two games for the Ligue 1 club due to a serious injury. However, the 27-year-old deserves a lot of credit for banging in 78 goals and providing 52 assists in 237 appearances for the French outfit thus far.
Thauvin was also part of the famous France team that lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, since then, his career has been disrupted by various injuries. The French wing wizard needs to get a regular run of matches under his belt so that he can build some confidence and rediscover his old form at the top level over the next few seasons.
Villa boss Dean Smith has to make a few shrewd acquisitions this summer if he wants his side to steer clear of relegation trouble in the upcoming campaign. Hence, the Villans should fancy taking a calculated risk on Thauvin as he could potentially help them score and create more goals which could propel them to challenge for a mid-table finish next season.
What Will The French Wide Player Bring To Villa Park?
When playing with confidence, Thauvin can make some promising runs in the opposition half and is usually quite dangerous with the ball at his feet. He has got the pace and agility to cause some significant headaches for his marker and is also a decent source for goal-scoring chances in the attacking third. The French winger is a composed presence who can get his fair share of goals from the wide areas.
Furthermore, Thauvin is highly versatile as he can play as a wide player on either wings or operate in the number ten position as an attacking midfielder. What makes him such a well-respected player in France is his incredible versatility and desire to get involved in front of the opposition goal.
Thauvin will bring a lot of goals and creativity to Villa Park, but his poor injury record will be a major cause for concern if the West Midlands club can win the race to land him in this off-season. At 27, he is at the perfect age to find a run of consistency and justify his worth in England following his disappointing loan spell with Newcastle United back in 2016.
The ten-time French international has previously made 13 appearances in the Premier League without scoring, so joining the Villans this summer could give him another opportunity to shine at the highest level. At the same time, Dean Smith can benefit a lot from having a player of Thauvin’s experience and offensive prowess in his match-day squads next season.
