Unai Emery Personally Asks for Aston Villa to Sign Thiago Almada in January

Unai Emery has asked Aston Villa to seal a deal to sign Atletico Madrid playmaker Thiago Almada in January, according to Fichajes.

Villa have had a terrific campaign so far and sit third in the Premier League, level on points with Manchester City and six behind leaders Arsenal, while they’re also third in the Europa League table, level on points with leaders Lyon.

But the club are keen to maintain their performances in the second half of the season by adding more quality to their squad, and the manager has personally requested that another Argentina international is brought to Villa Park before the deadline.

Aston Villa Eyeing Thiago Almada Deal

Almada, who has been described as ‘phenomenal’, has struggled for regular game time at Atletico Madrid this season under Diego Simeone, starting just four LaLiga games and featuring for just 60 minutes over three substitute appearances in the Champions League.

That lack of game time has alerted a number of clubs to a potential market opportunity in January, and Aston Villa are among the clubs showing an interest in the 24-year-old attacking midfielder.

But according to Fichajes, manager Emery has personally requested that the board splash the cash to bring him into the squad, as he believes that his creativity could provide the extra spark in the final third for the team to maintain their competitive edge. Villa are optimistic they can find an agreement with Atletico Madrid, but the Spanish side would rather keep him as they know the level he can reach.

Emery is convinced that this move would help to take his team to the next level, and it’s understood that any move could cost around £20m, with negotiations now accelerating.

Almada Signing Would Be Game-Changing for Villa

Villa’s form this season has been senational for the most part, and adding Almada into the equation could make them a real threat when it comes to the business end of the season and winning silverware.

With Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins already secured of their places in the attack, Almada’s arrival would see him slot in alongside those players and with his unique skillset, he would be able to help take those players to a new level as well, which in turn would help Aston Villa achieve their ambitions.

Having more match-winners in the squad would be a game-changing development heading into the second half of the season, and bringing in a player as good as he is would be a real boost to the rest of the squad too. Emery has proven that he can deliver when given the tools to do so, so if he is personally calling for someone then the Villa board must do everything they can to get it over the line.

Related

Aston Villa Join Race to Sign £200,000-a-Week Champions League Star

Villa are plotting an ambitious move in January