In a recent report, Fichajes mentioned that Aston Villa are among clubs hoping to land Espanyol forward Raul de Tomas this summer. It has been stated that the Villans could face competition from West Ham United, Newcastle United and Everton in the race to land the Spanish marksman.
De Tomas’ Impressive Form In Spanish Football
De Tomas had a decent campaign with Espanyol as he produced several productive performances for them in the attacking end of the field. The 27-year-old found the back of the net on 17 occasions and earned three assists in 36 matches for the Spanish club last season in all competitions.
The Spanish talent led the line well by averaging 1.1 clearances, 3.1 shots, 0.7 key passes and 1.5 dribbles per game in La Liga. He was even tidy when distributing the ball deep inside the opponent’s half, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 83.9% in the Spanish top-flight (stats via whoscored).
Is De Tomas The Right Fit For Aston Villa Boss Steven Gerrard?
De Tomas is a hard-working striker off the ball and can make a few important clearances at the back during the opponent’s set-pieces. He is proficient at creating a yard of space for himself to get a few shots in on target. De Tomas is primarily a centre-forward but can also play as a left-sided wide player if required.
The Spanish sensation can create some decent chances for his teammates in the final third and is a good finisher in front of the opposition goal when he is playing with confidence on the field.
At 27, de Tomas is currently enjoying the peak years of his playing career. Hence, he will make an instant impact at Villa Park if Steven Gerrard can find a way to win the race for his services.
The Espanyol striker has got the experience and goal-scoring record to be a real asset for the Villans next season. He could even go on to form a fruitful attacking partnership with Ollie Watkins for a regular starting spot at the West Midlands club.
