Aston Villa Opinion: Smith should sign Brentford left-back Yoann Barbet
According to a report from Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa were linked with a move for Brentford defender Yoann Barbet in the January transfer window.
However, a move away from Griffin Park failed to materialize for the Frenchman, with Villa choosing to bring in the likes of Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause on loan from Bournemouth and Wolves respectively to sort out their defensive frailties.
The same report claims that Barbet has entered talks with Brentford over a new contract, with his present deal set to expire in the summer.
Villa, on the other hand have the option of buying Hause permanently at the end of the season, while the Lions also have an option which would allow them to match any bids made for Mings at the end of the season.
However, with Southampton also expressing their interest in Mings, Villa would probably need to secure promotion to the Premier League to give themselves a realistic chance of making his stay permanent.
Yoann Barbet has been a regular starter for Brentford in the Championship this season and has impressed with his consistently impressive performances at Griffin Park, making a total of 29 starts in the league.
The 25-year-old has proven himself to be an absolute gem for the Bees with his versatility to play at left-back and centre-back, registering a total of 116 appearances for the club in all competitions since his arrival from French lower division side Chamois Niort in 2015.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have enjoyed an upturn of form just at the right time of the season, with the Lions putting themselves in the playoff places after four consecutive victories in the Championship.
The addition of Mings and Hause has changed the entire complexion of Villa’s backline which looked way too vulnerable earlier in the season. As a matter of fact, Villa have only conceded a single goal in their last four games, which is a massive improvement on their overall average.
Barnet has been touted with a reunion with former Brentford boss Dean Smith at Villa Park but the Lions need to act quickly, with the player reportedly in talks over a new deal at Griffin Park.
Both Mings and Hause are capable of playing at left-back and centre-back but the Lions face the danger of missing out on Mings next season if they fail to secure promotion to the top flight.
It is a no-brainer that Villa should consider permanent moves for both their loanees at the end of the season if they manage to make it to the Premier League but Barnet might be a more realistic option if they have to spend another season in the Championship.
Villa have found themselves short of cover at left-back numerous times this season, with Neil Taylor struggling for form and fitness. Alan Hutton has been forced to play on the left at times but that hasn’t really worked out for Villa.
Suffice to say, Barnet would be a welcome addition to the squad in the summer, owing to his ability to play both roles efficiently. Standing 6ft. 2 inches with a towering frame, the Frenchman is not only capable of imposing his authority with his physicality and aerial ability but he also has decent pace and good passing ability.
The 25-year-old has averaged 1.5 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 2.5 clearances, 2.2 aerial duels and 5 successful long balls per game in the Championship this season, figures which speak volumes of his well-rounded abilities as a defender.
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That said, Villa should weigh up a move for the Brentford man to ensure that they don’t run short of cover at the back next season.
