In a recent report, journalist Graeme Bailey mentioned that Aston Villa are keen on recruiting Ousmar Solet who is currently a free agent. It is believed that the Villans are facing competition in the form of Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United in the race to land the French defender on a free transfer.
Solet’s Impressive Form At Red Bull Salzburg Last Season
Solet enjoyed a solid campaign at Red Bull Salzburg recently as he was responsible for putting in a string of decent performances at the heart of their defence. The French talent participated in 28 matches for the Austrian outfit last season, netting two goals and grabbing one assist in all competitions.
The 24-year-old proved his worth in Europe by averaging 1.0 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 1.0 clearances per game in the UEFA Champions League. He was even careful when distributing possession from the back based on his pass completion rate of 86.5% in European football (stats via whoscored).
Solet is a free agent at the moment which makes him an affordable option for the Villans to consider this month.
What Will Solet Bring To Aston Villa?
Solet loves a tackle and can scan the danger well to earn the ball back for his team inside his half. He usually puts his foot through the ball when needed and excels at playing his way out from the back.
The French central defender can even use his powerful 1.92m frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. Solet is primarily a centre-back but can also fill in as a defensive midfielder if told to do so by his manager. However, it remains to be seen whether he can cope with the high intensity of the Premier League if the Villans manage to win the race for his services.
Solet would bring more bite and steel to Unai Emery’s defensive department. The Frenchman could help the West Midlands club challenge across all fronts in the coming seasons. At 24, Solet has his best years ahead of him. Furthermore, he is a free agent right now, so Emery would be wise to offer him a chance to shine at Villa Park.
