In a recent report, Tuttomercatoweb mentioned that Aston Villa have made contact to land Udinese defender Jaka Bijol this summer. It has been stated that the Villans are showing interest in the Slovenia international this off-season.
Bijol’s Impressive Form In Italian Football
Bijol enjoyed a solid campaign at Udinese after he put in a series of impressive displays at the centre of their backline. The 25-year-old made 25 appearances for the Italian club last season in multiple competitions.
The Slovenian talent was a consistent performer inside his half as he averaged 1.8 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 5.7 clearances per game in Serie A football. He was even excellent when distributing the ball from the back after completing 78.8% of his attempted passes in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Italian club will expire in the summer of 2027 which could make it difficult for the Villans to snap him up on the cheap later this year.
Should Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery Move In For Bijol?
Bijol is a tough-tackling defender who can time his challenges well to earn possession back for his team on the defensive third of the pitch. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when the opposition are on the offensive and can even play his way out from the back.
Standing at 1.90m, the Slovenia international can use his powerful frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. However, he is still unproven at the highest level and would need time to prove his worth in English football if Aston Villa manage to get him on board in this transfer window.
Bijol would add more bite and steel to Unai Emery’s defence and could help the Villans cope with fixture congestion better over the next few years. At 25, he has his peak years ahead of him which makes him a decent choice for the West Midlands club this summer.
However, Emery has to be patient with the Slovenian defensive ace’s progress before he can get the best out of him in the Premier League. Still, he would be a good signing for the Villans in the long run, so Emery should focus on moving in for him soon.
