Aston Villa Opinion: Lions should move for Moussa Marega if they win the playoffs
According to the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa are interested in signing Moussa Marega from FC Porto should they seal qualification to the Premier League through the Championship playoffs.
The Birmingham Mail also understands that Villa’s Midlands rivals Wolves have submitted an offer for the 28-year-old Malian international striker, who is currently rated at €40 million by Porto.
The Lions were tracking Marega in preparation for their return to the Premier League last season but a defeat to Fulham in the playoff final ended their pursuit of the prolific frontman.
However, Villa are set to go back for the Malian once again this summer should they win the playoffs, as Dean Smith remains keen on bringing some high-quality players to Villa Park to make an immediate impact on the Premier League. (h/t Birmingham Mail)
Marega has been linked with several Premier League clubs in recent times and the Birmingham Mail understands that the 28-year-old is itching to complete a move to England this summer.
Villa have also been linked with Brentford forward Neal Maupay over the last few months, and although the Frenchman looks a more viable alternative to Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham, the Lions might use their financial muscle to strike a big-money deal for the Porto star. (h/t Birmingham Mail)
Meanwhile, Villa’s wonderful unbeaten run of 10 games came to an end at the hands of Norwich City in the Championship on Sunday, though Dean Smith’s side still head into the playoffs as the most in-form team. The Lions will take on West Brom at home on Saturday in the first of the two-legged semi-final tie.
To put things into perspective, Villa completing a move for Marega solely depends on whether or not they manage to win the playoffs. If they do manage to win promotion back to the Premier League, however, the 28-year-old can turn them into a formidable force in the top-flight next season, as he has all the ammunition in his repertoire to take the Premier League by storm.
Marega scored 22 goals in all competitions for Porto last season and he has continued from where he signed off in the previous campaign. The 28-year-old has once again proven his worth as a prolific goalscorer not only in the Primeira Liga but in the Champions League as well.
He has contributed with 20 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season, with 6 of those goals coming in Porto’s Champions League campaign, which eventually ended in the quarterfinals against Liverpool.
Known for his perseverance, tenacity, raw power, strength and eye for goal as a centre-forward, Marega uses his sinewy frame to charge at his defensive counterparts, often intimidating them with his pace and trickery to run clear through on goal.
However, he is not only about pace and power, with his clinical finishing and poaching instincts making him a more complete striker. He is an absolute beast of a centre-forward, who is also athletic and times his jump to perfection to beat his marker to the aerial balls from set-pieces and crosses.
Furthermore, Marega is an efficient assist-provider as well, using short exchanges to link up with his teammates and often unleashing key passes to set up goals.
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Marega seemingly has all the attributes to taste success in the Premier League, and at 28. The time might just be right for him to move and make a name for himself on the biggest stage.
Aston Villa will need to find a replacement for Tammy Abraham and they would hardly find anyone better than Moussa Marega for that purpose, though it remains to be seen whether they manage to end their absence from the Premier League.
