According to a recent report by Sky Sports, Dean Smith’s Premier League outfit Aston Villa are still said to be keen on acquiring the services of Brentford’s Algerian international winger Said Benrahma. Although the Villans did try rather hard to sign him in the summer, the Bees’ £20m valuation seemed to put the Villa Park club out in the blue.
Despite their stubbornness in terms of the fee, Aston Villa doesn’t seem to be ready to back out from the cause. It has been suggested that the amount might be off-putting the former Brentford manager Dean Smith, especially considering that he spent over £100m rebuilding their squad in preparation for the Premier League.
How Did Said Benrahma Come To Become An Aston Villa Target?
The Algerian international was signed by Brentford, from Ligue 1 side OGC Nice last summer. Since making the transfer across the English Channel, the speedster has certainly hit the ground running. He played 38 times in the Championship for the Bees last season and came away with an excellent return of ten goals and 15 assists.
This season as well, he has undoubtedly become an extremely important part of the Brentford attacking setup, and Dean Smith, who was once the much-loved manager of the Bees, has been quick to identify his potential as well. Although he’s only got two goals and two assists from 14 games so far this season, the Villans could use an attacker with the creative ability that he possesses.
What Does Said Benrahma Bring To The Table?
Despite not being blindingly quick on the ball, the Algerian is an adept dribbler, who manoeuvres his way past incoming challenges with ease. Resemblant to Angel Di Maria when he runs with the ball, the winger is an excellent option on the right flank, as he isn’t afraid to get chalk on his boots and put in the hard work.
The youngster is an excellent crosser of the ball as well, as can be seen from his assists return last season. He can be deceptively strong on the ball and is capable of the odd skill to leave a man behind. Once he gets into the box, he tends to be a deadly finisher as well – all the attributes that Dean Smith would welcome at Villa Park at this time.
Do Villa Need To Sign Said Benrahma In January?
The Villans’ attacking arsenal includes Jack Grealish, Anwar El Ghazi, Trezeguet and Jota. Although four talented wingers does look good on paper, their creative productivity has been minimal. With the exception of Jack Grealish, none of the other options has been able to kick on for Villa this season, making the addition of a talented player like Said Benrahma, an absolute necessity.
