Goal.com has recently reported that Aston Villa are set to rival Atalanta for Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure this summer. It is understood that the Villans are hoping to land the Toffees midfield ace before the transfer deadline later this month (via Goal.com).
Doucoure’s Decent Campaign At Goodison Park
Doucoure had another impressive season at Villa Park as he established himself as a regular member of the Everton starting XI. The French workhorse made 34 appearances for the Merseyside outfit in the previous campaign, scoring three goals and securing three assists across multiple competitions.
The 28-year-old continued to impress for the Toffees at the centre of the park after he averaged 1.8 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 0.9 clearances, 0.6 shots, 0.7 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per game in Premier League football. He even distributed the ball with conviction because he completed 85.1% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Doucoure is playing at a decent level in English football, so he could be a clever addition to the Villans squad before the start of the new campaign. At 28, he is currently playing some of the best football of his career, so he could be a success story at Villa Park in the coming seasons.
What Will The French Midfield Ace Bring To Villa Park?
Doucoure is a hard-working midfielder who can make some tireless runs with the ball from midfield. He loves a tackle at the centre of the park and has got the tenacity to earn the ball back for his team. Doucoure is primarily a box-to-box midfielder but can also operate as a wide player on the right flank if required.
The one-time France Under-21 international can get back to help his teammates out defensively when needed and can even create some inviting openings for others around him. He can even keep the ball moving quite well in the opponent’s half.
A two-player of Doucoure’s experience will be a good fit for the Villans during this summer transfer period. He will undeniably inject more quality to Dean Smith’s defensive department. The Frenchman will even offer some healthy competition for John McGinn, Marvelous Nakamba, Douglas Luiz and Morgan Sanson in the race to secure a regular starting place at the West Midlands club in the upcoming campaign.
We can expect the Everton midfielder to bring plenty of energy and dynamism to Villa Park. Doucoure knows the Premier League quite well and is well-equipped to make an immediate impact for the Villans over the next few years. Moreover, he could help Smith’s team to compete for a top-half finish in the English top-flight next season.
