In a recent interview (via Give Me Sport), journalist Josh Holland tipped Aston Villa to move in for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare. Holland said,
“I’ve been thinking and there’s a few midfielders who I think Villa could go for.
“I know that Sangaré and PSV keeps on getting mentioned, and he’s got a release clause of £35m.”
Sangare’s Excellent Form In Dutch Football Last Season
Sangare had a solid campaign at the Philips Stadion as he put in a run of impressive performances at the heart of PSV’s midfield. The 24-year-old scored four goals and picked up four assists in 48 matches for the Dutch club last season in multiple competitions.
The Ivory Coast international anchored the midfield well based on his average of 3.3 tackles, 2.6 interceptions, 1.0 clearances, 1.4 shots, 0.8 key passes and 1.6 dribbles per game in the Dutch Eredivisie. He was even careful when distributing possession from midfield after making 86.1% of his attempted passes in the Dutch first division (stats via whoscored).
Is Sangare A Good Choice For Aston Villa Boss Steven Gerrard?
Sangare is a solid tackler of the ball and can secure the ball back for his team at the centre of the park. He is often quick to spot the danger and doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when needed.
The 24-time Ivory Coast international can even pull off a few energetic runs with the ball from midfield. He can even chip in by scoring and creating some important goals for his team in the final third and doesn’t mind putting in a tireless shift in midfield.
However, there are some concerns over whether Sangare would be able to maintain his brilliant form in the Premier League if Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard decide to move in for him this summer.
Still, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting Sangare as he is good enough to strengthen the West Midlands club‘s midfield options for the long run. At 24, the PSV Eindhoven star will only get better in the coming seasons, so he will be a decent choice for the Villans to consider during this summer transfer period.
