Aston Villa offered chance to sign ex-Tottenham player on free transfer with talks held
Aston Villa’s night in Bruges showed both sides of Unai Emery’s rebuilt team.
There was speed, confidence and a ruthless edge during the opening 45 minutes. After the break, however, control disappeared and an impressive lead became something Villa had to protect with everything they had.
The 3-2 victory over Club Brugge was still exactly what Emery needed. Villa had entered their Champions League opener without a win this season and without a goal across three Premier League matches.
John McGinn ended that drought after 11 minutes, guiding Pau Torres’ pass beyond Yann Sommer. Hugo Vetlesen levelled, but Emi Buendía restored the advantage before Nicolas Jackson punished another gap in the home defence.
Jackson’s goal was his first for Villa and gave the visitors a 3-1 lead at the interval. The striker offered pace in behind, physical strength and the direct threat that had been missing from their opening league games.
Villa created enough to make the scoreline more comfortable, producing 21 attempts, testing Sommer nine times and finishing with an expected goals figure of 3.00.
|
Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Match stat |
Club Brugge |
Aston Villa |
|
Possession |
64% |
36% |
|
Total shots |
14 |
21 |
|
Shots on target |
7 |
9 |
|
Expected goals (xG) |
1.46 |
3.00 |
|
Big chances created |
1 |
4 |
|
Corners |
4 |
5 |
|
Completed passes |
532 |
281 |
|
Pass accuracy |
88% |
83% |
|
Duels won |
53 |
50 |
|
Goalkeeper saves |
5 |
5 |
|
Fouls committed |
17 |
14 |
The second half raised questions which Emery will want answered.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s handball allowed Nicolò Tresoldi to score from the penalty spot, and Club Brugge then took command of possession, pushed Villa deeper and forced Zion Suzuki into several important saves.
That does not turn a valuable European win into a negative result.
It does, though, explain why another experienced midfielder could still have some appeal despite the amount of summer business completed at Villa Park.
Aston Villa offered Yves Bissouma on a free transfer after Tottenham exit
Football Insider have reported that Aston Villa are among the Premier League clubs approached about signing free agent Yves Bissouma.
The report states that representatives working on the midfielder’s future have also contacted multiple other top flight sides, but no club have moved those talks forward or placed an offer on the table at this stage.
Bissouma is believed to favour staying in the Premier League too, although sides from Italy, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are also monitoring his position.
Former Man United scout Mick Brown also expects a Premier League club to eventually take a chance on him, while acknowledging concerns about his recent fitness.
The Mali international has been without a club since his Tottenham contract expired in June, and his final season in north London was badly disrupted by injuries, bringing four uneven seasons at Spurs to a disappointing finish.
His best football in England arguably came at Brighton, where his strength in duels, ability to escape pressure and willingness to carry the ball through midfield made him one of the division’s more effective defensive midfielders.
At his sharpest, Bissouma could give Emery another player capable of shielding Villa’s backline whilst receiving possession in tight areas.
He would provide experienced cover for Boubacar Kamara and João Gomes, but Villa are not short of options in the middle.
Amadou Onana, Leon Goretzka, Lamare Bogarde and Ross Barkley provide further competition, so this would be an opportunistic signing rather than an emergency addition.
There would also be wages, fitness and squad registration to consider as well.
