In a recent interview with Villa News, former scout Bryan King urged Aston Villa to land Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso. When asked about whether his former employers should sign the talented defender, King said,
“To be competing for the signatures of these players, that is a huge step up for Villa after recent years.
“If they are to reach the UEFA Champions League next season, this is the profile of player they must be looking to sign.
“They will have a lot of games to play next season, so they will need quality players in their squad.”
Hermoso’s Impressive Campaign In Spanish Football
Hermoso is enjoying a solid season in La Liga as he has managed to produce a string of dominant displays for the Madrid outfit on the defensive end of the pitch. The 28-year-old has played in 36 matches for Atletico Madrid during this campaign, netting two goals and grabbing one assist in various competitions.
The Madrid-born talent has been a decent performer when defending inside his half based on his average of 1.7 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 2.9 clearances per 90 minutes in La Liga. He has also been excellent when distributing possession from the back after making 87.1% of his attempted passes in the Spanish first division (stats via whoscored).
Should Aston Villa Move In For Hermoso?
Hermoso is a good tackler of the ball and can scan the danger well to earn the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind clearing the danger when needed and can even play his way out from the back. The Spaniard can even use his strong 1.84m frame to win a few aerial duels for his team. However, it remains to be seen whether he can make a smooth transition to life in England.
Hermoso would inject more bite and steel into Aston Villa boss Unai Emery’s defence. He might even help the Villans compete across all fronts in the coming years. At the moment, Hermoso is playing at a high level, so the West Midlands club should move in for him later this year.
At 28, Hermoso is enjoying his prime right now which makes him a worthy option for the Villans to consider in the upcoming transfer period.
