Aston VillaManchester City's win over Manchester City at the weekend means they head into Christmas sitting sixth in the league Premier League The table is only three points behind the top four.
And it's no secret Unai Emery He wants to secure a place in the Champions League again for next season, especially given how the club has performed in the competition so far.
The Spaniard would like to see more glorious European nights at Villa Park, and it is clear he must strengthen his squad during the January transfer window.
The question is what positions will it aim to reinforce?
Aston Villa shows interest in the Serie A star
In the attacking midfield position, Emery has been able to call on the likes of Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia this season, with the former already starting to show his abilities since the start of the season.
According to For reports from Caught Offside However, last week, it appeared as if Villa were monitoring Atalanta midfielder Charles De Kittilari ahead of a potential attack during the winter window.
The Italian side value the player at around £40m, which shouldn't pose a big problem for Emery, especially if they can sell a player or two during the same window.
He will face a lot of competition for the Belgian, as Premier League clubs such as Liverpool, West Ham United, Arsenal and Manchester City are just a few of the teams monitoring the situation regarding the player.
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Atalanta currently sit at the top of the Serie A table, meaning it could be difficult for any club to alienate their stars when the window opens.
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Unai Emery's January signings with Aston Villa |
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|---|---|
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player |
The club signed from |
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Morgan Rogers |
Middlesbrough |
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Kosta Nedelkovic |
Red Star Belgrade |
|
Joe Juicy |
Adelaide United |
|
Lino Souza |
Arsenal |
|
John Doran |
chicago |
|
Alex Moreno |
Real Betis |
This may not stop Emery, especially since he is capable of doing so John Doran Unplayable by bringing the midfielder to the club.
How De Ketelaere can make Duran unplayable
The Colombian has performed admirably this season, as he was able to score 12 times in 25 matches In all competitions, despite participating only six times with the club throughout the season.
Doran was a sought-after man during the summer transfer window, but Emery will be happy to stay in the Midlands.
The South American has started the previous three Premier League matches, vindicating Emery's confidence by scoring in all three matches.
Rogers has been providing the centre-forward with the goods all season, but could the signing of De Cutellari give Duran more opportunities in the final third?
For example, in Serie A this season, the Belgian maestro won Not only did he create nine big chances In 16 appearances, he also averaged 1.8 key passes per game and completed 1.1 dribbles per game, underscoring how impressive he is in the final third.
When compared to his peers in Serie A this season, the 23-year-old is currently Ranks in the top 3% In terms of assists (0.41), top 3% in terms of progressive passes (6.18) and in the top 10% in terms of touches in the attacking penalty area (5.19) per 90, which is further evidence of how devastating his influence is in the opposition third.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent's goal or any completed pass inside the penalty area.
These stats suggest that he would be a dream signing for Duran, as he would be able to link up well with the Colombian by operating directly behind him in the No. 10 role under Emery.
Following a stunning display for Atalanta against Young Boys in the Champions League earlier this season, in which he scored two goals and registered three assists, the football talent said scout Jacek Kulig“A truly magical European night for the 23-year-old Atalanta striker”
The bigger stage clearly doesn't bother the youngster, which could be another quality that would help him settle in well at Villa.
Furthermore, De Ketelaere also resembles a Premier League star who is arguably one of the best attacking talents in Europe; Bukayo Saka.
If Emery can somehow manage to sign in January, he could have his own version of Saka at his disposal, which would boost their chances of finishing in the top four.
How does De Ketelaere compare to Bukayo Saka
Ask any Premier League manager and they would love to be able to use Saka's services in their starting XI, including Liverpool and Manchester City.
So far this season, the Englishman has done just that He has already scored nine league Goals alongside registering 13 assists for Arsenal as they aim to end their two-decade wait for a league title.
What's even more impressive is the fact that he has Created 19 big chances In the top flight he averages 2.7 key passes per game and 2.1 dribbles per game, terrorizing defenses up and down the country.
According to FBref, Saka is third A similar player to Di Kettilairi in Europe's top five leagues, suggesting that Emery would sign a very talented player if the Belgian was signed.
In fact, the husband has Even recorded similar statistics Across a range of metrics this season, including goals and assists (17 vs. 21), shots on target per 90 (1.19 vs. 1.27), goal creation actions per 90 (0.94 vs. 1.32), and touches in the final third (88 vs. 143) . ) and the successful acquisition rate (43.9% vs. 42.3%).
These stats prove that the Atalanta midfielder is certainly on par with Saka on a wide range of attacking metrics, suggesting that he would be an excellent addition to Villa's squad from January onwards.
Emery may be looking to sell at least one player to raise some cash for any future transfers, but given his form in the Champions League, money shouldn't really be an issue, especially since the fee on offer is around £40m.
For this price, Emery would be able to sign someone who is performing at a similar level to Saka this season, and the move could be a great deal for the club. That's for sure.
