Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, journalist Pete O’Rourke stated that Aston Villa are facing stiff competition for Red Bull Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba. It is believed that the Villans would have to rival Chelsea and Real Madrid in the race to land the French centre-half next year.
Lukeba’s Decent Run Form In The Bundesliga
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a fine run of form at the German club this season as he has been responsible for producing a handful of solid displays for them in the Bundesliga. Lukeba has participated in eight matches for RB Leipzig this season in multiple competitions.
The French defensive ace has given a good account of himself when defending inside his half and has done well to average 1.6 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and 2.8 clearances per game in the Bundesliga. He was even careful when distributing possession from the back, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 91.5% in the German top tier (stats via whoscored).
Lukeba’s current contract at the Red Bull Arena will expire in the summer of 2028. Hence, the Villans would have to make a big offer if they want to bring him to England next year.
Aston Villa Are Facing Stiff Competition For Lukeba: Is He Worth The Fight?
Lukeba loves a tackle and can time his challenges well to make some timely interceptions for his team on the defensive end of the pitch. He usually puts his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the offensive and excels at playing his way out from the back.
Standing at 1.84m, the French sensation can use his powerful frame to win a few aerial duels for his team. However, there are some question marks over whether he can make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League if the Villans manage to bring him on board next year.
Lukeba would inject more bite and steel into Aston Villa boss Unai Emery’s defence. He is good enough to challenge for a regular starting place at Villa Park in the coming years. At 21, the future looks quite bright for Lukeba. Thus, he would be well worth the fight, so Emery should go all out to recruit him in 2025.
