According to a surprising report from Calciomercato.it, Aston Villa have put Fiorentina’s Moise Kean at the top of their wishlist. They want the forward to strengthen their attack. The Italian outlet claims Unai Emery’s side have already moved decisively for the 25-year-old, even though he has struggled for form in Serie A this year.
Aston Villa Eye Shock Swoop for Struggling Kean as Malen Departure Looms
Kean previously found it hard to settle into English football during his time with Everton. He has only managed five league goals so far this season. Fans and critics have hammered him for missing a string of big chances.
The Italian striker’s slump comes at a terrible time for Fiorentina. The club are currently 18th in the table and stuck in the relegation zone. The main reason for Villa’s sudden interest is Donyell Malen’s expected exit.
Sportwitness reports the Dutchman is about to join either AS Roma or Atletico Madrid. His move would leave a massive gap in Emery’s starting lineup. Kean apparently wants to stay in Italy to help his team avoid the drop, but the money involved might force Fiorentina to sell.
The striker has a massive €62m release clause. Naturally, the Viola want to use that number as a starting point for talks. However, Villa have no plans to pay such a high price. Instead, the Premier League side hope to use Fiorentina’s league struggles to their advantage. With a costly relegation to Serie B looming, the Italian side might have to take a much lower fee.
A Tactical Gamble or a Masterstroke by Emery?
Swapping an explosive forward like Malen for a striker who can’t find the net is a huge risk for Aston Villa. Unai Emery usually wants his players to press hard and move the ball quickly on the break. Kean has shown flashes of this, but he isn’t consistent enough yet.
The Italian international has the physical tools to make it in the Premier League. He is fast and strong enough to hold onto the ball and link up with his teammates. This fits Emery’s style of using a target man to start fast counter-attacks. Still, the 25-year-old’s poor finishing this season is a major concern. Villa can’t afford any deadweight if they want to keep competing at the top level in England and Europe.
On top of that, the move only makes sense if Fiorentina are truly desperate. Paying anything close to €62m for a five-goal striker would be a mistake. However, if Villa’s board can take advantage of Fiorentina’s fear of going down, they might land a steal.
Emery is famous for getting struggling players back on track. Maybe he sees something in Kean’s game that others have missed. In the end, this deal depends on whether Villa think Kean’s form is gone for good or if he just needs a fresh start in England to find his confidence again. If Emery thinks he can fix the striker, Villa may just get the bargain they need to replace Malen.
