Aston Villa played a masterstroke by appointing Dean Smith as their new manager back in October. The ex-Brentford chief turned things around in no time guiding the Claret and Blue to a Premier League return defeating Derby County in the playoff final.
Villa, meanwhile, have released a few of the veterans upon expiration of their contract and are in the market for replacements who would be up for the challenge to avoid a relegation scare. According to Le 10 Sport, the Midlands club have submitted an offer of around €10m (£8.9m) for Saïd Benrahma, the Brentford star who enjoyed a stupendous debut season in the Championship following his transfer to Greater London from Nice under Smith.
The gaffer, however, is now keen on a reunion with the Algerian who netted 11 goals and laid on 14 more in 45 appearances across all competitions. He has been a revelation in the Bees attack, and therefore, is expected to complete a high-profile transfer within the next couple of months.
Villa parted ways with winger Albert Adomah after securing top-flight promotion and would require someone to replace the 31-year-old Ghanaian down the wide areas. Benrahma, although excellent on the left, has been productive from the opposite flank as well. He can also operate as a second striker, ‘number 10’ or midfield attacker adding versatility to his game.
The 23-year-old has exquisite crossing and passing attributes. He prefers to cut inside from the wing, dribble past the opponents, shoot from a distance and tries to find the right pass piercing the defence. He is lethal from set-pieces and has a directness to his game while charging forward.
Aston Villa have already roped in Jota (who played under Smith during their Brentford days) from fierce rivals Birmingham City and are closing in on making Lille attacker Anwar El Ghazi’s loan move permanent for a fee in the region of £8m, according to the Guardian. They are focusing on reconfiguring the attacking third and Benrahma, still in his early twenties, would be a fantastic addition for the forthcoming future.
The player, nevertheless, must improve his work rate to adjust to the demand of Premier League football. He often gets isolated when the opponents are in charge and should get more involved in the build-ups from a slightly deeper role before executing the counter attacks. Brentford are yet to respond to Villa’s offer and should play hardball to profit as much as possible having tied down the forward on a four-year deal (with the option of a further year) last summer.
