Steve Burce’s Aston Villa stand in the 5th place in the points table going into the busy month of December and the manager will know that his side have a serious shot at promotion this season. But they have managed to score just 29 goals in 20 games this season, the least in the top 8 in the Championship and it is important that they add some creativity to the side in the January transfer window.
Bruce recently revealed that his side have to be innovative in their search for a player in January, thanks to the Financial Fair Play Rules. So it does not come as a surprise that he is looking for exciting players struggling to impress in the top flight.
A number of star players from big clubs are linked with a loan move in the second half of the season at Villa Park and one such player who is now on the club’s radar is Swansea City youngster Oliver McBurnie.
At just 21, the striker has already played for five different English clubs but is currently continuing his progress in the top flight under Paul Clement. He was ready for a loan stint at Barnsley but issues with paperwork saw him stay back at the Liberty Stadium beyond the deadline day.
He has been a regular on the bench in the league since and has made seven substitute appearances, clocking 83 minutes of top-flight football in England. However, his only contributions have come for the U23 side at Swansea, where he picked up seven goals and an assist in just five starts.
Strong in the air and smart with his movement in the final third, McBurnie is a hard-working striker, who loves to play on the shoulder of the final defender. He has a superb understanding of the game, which allows him to meet most crosses into the box and though he has not been able to replicate it in the Premier League, he has been effective in most youth leagues he has played for and is surely a star for the future.
Albert Adomah has been excellent in front of goal for the Villains this season standing as their most productive outfield player, and has been helped by the likes of Robert Snodgrass and Conor Hourihane, both of whom are not strikers.
So it is clear that Villa have struggled in front of goal, and add to it the injuries to Jonathan Kodjia and Scott Hogan, has made a striker a must-buy for Villa in January.
McBurnie may not be the best option available but the 21-year old is certainly going to add a different dimension to the attack at the Villa Park and is a player Bruce must lure to the Championship.
