Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is reportedly ‘pushing’ for Giovani Lo Celso as he considers options to bolster his midfield this summer.
Villa are expected to be busy ahead of next season, as Emery will get his first real opportunity to start strengthening his squad and shaping it into his own.
While outgoings are likely too, speculation has been rife already this month about potential transfer targets, and Fabrizio Romano has stated that Villa have ‘concrete interest’ in Lo Celso.
Further, he adds that the Argentine midfielder would be keen on a move to join us, but it remains to be seen how the appointment of a new manager at Tottenham impacts the situation, but Emery is said to be keen on the 27-year-old, albeit he’s just one name on a shortlist.
Lo Celso is currently on loan at Villarreal where he has made 25 appearances so far this season, scoring one goal and providing three assists. However, he will return to Spurs at the end of the season and a decision will be made on his long-term future.
He has gained valuable experience of playing in the Premier League with the north London side, making 84 appearances in total while contributing eight goals and six assists.
In turn, should a move to Villa materialise this summer, that will certainly help speed up his adaptation and could play a key role in whether or not Emery chooses to prioritise him as a signing above other possible targets.
Villa do have quality in that department with the likes of Douglas Luiz and John McGinn showing significant improvement under Emery, while Leander Dendoncker has stepped in and done well when required.
However, in order to help us become increasingly competitive at a higher level and with depth needed as we try to compete on multiple fronts, it’s an area that can be improved with new additions, and so time will tell if Lo Celso emerges as a front-runner to address that.
