In a recent print edition, El Periódico Mediterráneo mentioned that Aston Villa are set to rival Barcelona for Villarreal midfielder Dani Parejo. It has been claimed that the Villans are eyeing a move to recruit the veteran midfielder during this summer transfer window.
Parejo’s Impressive Run Of Form In Spanish Football
Parejo proved his worth as a valuable presence at the heart of Villarreal’s midfield last season. The 34-year-old found the back of the net three times and earned six assists in 50 matches for the Yellow Submarine in the previous campaign across multiple competitions.
The Spain international has been a consistent performer in both halves based on his average of 1.9 tackles, 0.8 tackles, 0.8 clearances, 0.8 shots, 1.4 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in La Liga. He has even been accurate when distributing the ball from midfield after completing 80.6% of his attempted passes in the Spanish top-flight (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Spanish club will expire at the end of next season. Hence, it makes sense for Aston Villa to arrange a cut-price move for him this summer.
What Will Parejo Bring To Aston Villa?
Parejo is a good tackler of the ball and can make some important interceptions for his team at the centre of the park. He usually clears his lines when the opposition are on the offensive and can make a few promising chances for his teammates in the final third.
The Spaniard can also make some clever runs with the ball from midfield. However, father time is slowly catching up with his game. Furthermore, there are some concerns over whether he would be able to make a smooth transition to life in English football.
Parejo will bring more experience to Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery’s midfield department and could help the Villans push for European football in the upcoming campaign. Emery already knows the player well from their time together in Spain and could unlock the best out of him at Villa Park.
At 34, Parejo might still have a year or two left in him and would be a good, short-term acquisition for the West Midlands club to pull off during this summer transfer period.
