According to a recent report by the Daily Mail, a host of the Premier League’s top clubs, including Aston Villa, are lining up for the free transfer of former Manchester City and Hull City defender Omar Elabdellaoui. Leicester, Watford, Bournemouth and Burnley are all said to be keen on the Norwegian as well.
The 27-year-old Olympiacos man, who has been the skipper of both club and country for a while now, is set to run out of contract at the Greek side in the summer, and this has triggered interest from various parts of the world.
Who is Omar Elabdellaoui?
Born in the capital city of Oslo, the full-back began his youth career at local club Skeid Oslo before he was scouted as a future star by the staff at Manchester City. The Norwegian international had a highly forgettable spell at the Etihad Stadium from 2008 through 2013. Although he has gone on to better things since then, his development did slow down drastically because of his spell in Manchester. During this period, he spent loan spells at a multitude of European clubs, including Feyernood in the Dutch Eredivisie.
It was in the summer of 2014 that Manchester City finally sold the Norwegian to Olympiacos. After a good stint in Greece, he was loaned out to Hull City and spent the 2nd half of the 16/17 campaign back in England. Now a regular in the Olympiacos side, it has been suggested that he could be open to a return to the Premier League, with the suitors seemingly lining up for his signature. Still only 27, the Norwegian certainly has a lot left to offer from a footballing perspective, and it’s only fair that he’s given the opportunity that he deserves.
What Does Omar Elabdellaoui Bring To The Table?
Despite having spent the last few years in the slightly slower-paced environment of Greek football, he has more than enough quality under his belt to succeed in England. As a player who’s already used to the sheer intensity of the English game, a move back to the Premier League could be the ideal move for the full-back.
Able to defend with a sense of authority, he has all the makings of a top-quality full-back, especially considering that he’s developed into an excellent crosser of the ball. Never afraid to get forward, Elabdellaoui’s presence is only going liven the Villa attack even further.
Why Aston Villa Must Ensure They Secure Omar Elabdellaoui Signing
Although the player is 27 already, he still has a lot to offer to any team he plays for. Villa’s first-choice full-back Elmohamady is now 32-years-old, and now could be the ideal time to start thinking about his eventual replacement. Elabdellaoui has the right attributes to operate in Dean Smith’s system, and he would be a good fit at Villa Park. The Midlands club have to make sure that they beat the likes of Watford and Bournemouth to sign the Norwegian, especially if they hope to stay in the Premier League for the foreseeable future.
