In a recent report, Foot Mercato stated that Aston Villa will face stiff competition for Olympique Lyonnais striker Moussa Dembele. It has been claimed that the Villans will have to rival Southampton in the race to acquire the services of the French forward.
Dembele’s Tough Season At The Groupama Stadium
Dembele is having a difficult campaign in French football as he has failed to be consistent for Lyon in front of the opponent’s goal. The 26-year-old has banged in two goals and secured one assist in 16 matches for the French club this season across various competitions.
The French sensation has made most of his league appearances off the bench which explains why he is only averaging 1.4 shots and 0.3 dribbles per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 football. He has linked up play relatively well with his teammates in the final third after making 76.9% of his attempted passes in the French first division (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Groupama Stadium is set to run out at the end of this campaign. Thus, it makes sense for the Villans to try and sign him on the cheap before the end of this January transfer window.
Should Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery Move In For Dembele?
Dembele can still make a few dangerous runs with the ball when he is playing with confidence on the pitch. He is proficient at generating space for himself to get a few strikes in on-target but needs to work on improving his all-around game in the final third. Furthermore, the French sensation has been guilty of being inconsistent with his offensive productivity this season which is something that he needs to rectify as soon as possible.
We can expect Dembele to add more firepower to Aston Villa boss Unai Emery‘s attack. He has what it takes to rival Ollie Watkins for a regular starting spot at Villa Park in the coming seasons. At 26, the France Under-21 international is about to enter his prime which makes him a decent choice for Aston Villa to consider during this winter transfer period.
With all things considered, the West Midlands club would be wise to move in for Dembele before the end of this month as he ticks all the right boxes in terms of what Emery demands from his strikers. Plus, the Frenchman could even help the Villans challenge for a major trophy over the next few years.
