More Potential Aston Villa Transfer Targets
By Liam Scahill
After the first four potential player considerations of the MOMS scouting report, that the Aston Villa recruitment team may or may not have cast their eye over in the build up to this summer’s transfer window, comes the second batch of four young talents with potential upside. One player even has a Villa connection that gives him legitimate ‘one of us’ classification.
Mike Trésor Ndayishimiye
Willem II – Attacking Midfielder
Released by Anderlecht at just 19 after disagreements over playing time, Ndayishimiye spent the summer months of 2018 with a personal trainer as he looked for a new club.
His risk and reward ethos paid off and he found sanctuary at Dutch side NEC Nijmegen in the Eerste Divisie. Capable of playing anywhere across the front three Ndayishimiye terrorised and bewildered defences in his new surroundings so-much-so he caught the eyes of Willem II.
Nowadays he prefers to go by his alias “Mike Trésor” which commentators will be forever thankful to him for. He is predominately right footed and endowed with a powerful long-range shot that catches the eye.
Another feather to this starlet’s cap, is his set-pieces, something Villa have sorely missed since Hourihane’s departure from Dean Smith’s squad.
Rumoured to be attracting flirty propositions from Ajax, Leeds & Wolves in recent times, this player fits the Villa remit of recruiting potential and value. The young Belgian is an obvious footballing talent whose prominence in the game seems to be gathering pace year-on-year.
Verdict: A rising star whether Villa could offer him the regular football his ambition yearns could prove a stumbling block.
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa
Fulham – Combative-Dynamic-Centre Midfielder
First up, a disclaimer and some self-praise (hence we’ve shoehorned him in), this Cameroonian powerhouse has crossed our scouting radar before, back in 2019 we proposed this weapon of a box-to-box midfielder to you and alas our recruitment desires did not come to pass.
Deja-Vu…. Fulham have been relegated again and once more we are highlighting Anguissa’s vast array of talent.
Not much has changed except crucially maybe the price due to the fact Anguissa showed to Premier League audiences what he is capable of in glimpses this year. (Click here for our historic recommendation).
Verdict: The 25-year-old midfielder will not be staying with the Cottagers this year, whether the price is suitable to Villa after splashing out on his former Marseille teammate Morgan Sanson in recent times is another matter.
Ilias Chair
QPR – Exciting Attacking Midfielder
Chair has proved to R’s fans there is life after Eze, by racking up eight goals and four assists this season. The 23-year-old’s exploits have not gone unnoticed and he is said to be attracting attention from admirers both at home and abroad in the form of Watford, Anderlecht, Club Brugge, Bologna and Genoa just to name a few.
His employers QPR are said to be in no rush to cash-in and he is currently valued around the £13 million price mark with four-years remaining on his contract at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. Chair has been one of QPR’s main creative forces in recent times and plays the game with an exciting sense of freedom and abandon at times.
Eligible for both Belgium and Morocco, he has been called to the Moroccan squad for this month’s flurry of African nations’ friendlies for the first time. Chair whom is not tall to say the least (but neither was Alan Wright) has managed to not only survive but thrive in the physical-combative-championship world of English football.
The tricky playmaker’s slight stature has always been a topic of debate but he seems destined for a bright future in the game nonetheless.
Outspoken former QPR boss Ian Holloway handed Chair his first team debut in a Carabao Cup tie against Northampton in August 2017 and what adds to his Villa credentials is the fact he scored his first ever goal for QPR against Birmingham City in the final home game of his debut season.
His time at QPR has not always been a bed of roses for the Belgian-born midfielder and he spent a spell at Stevenage in League 2 on-loan during the time of (Dutch-Speaking) Steven McClaren at QPR.
Naturally Chair is often compared to another Moroccan (no not Hassan Kachloul), Adel Taarabt given they both have an eye for the spectacular wonder goal but where Chair differs to the flamboyant Taarabt, is his massive capacity for hard-work and pressing.
Verdict: A hard-working-flair player is often hard to find but Chair is exactly that. Villa’s upcoming big money spend on Emiliano Buendía though, will make this a non-starter.
Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson
IFK Norrkoping – Son of a Former Villan
Are you ready for some nostalgia? Yes, we hear you cry. Who remembers Joey Guðjónsson’s time at the Villa? Well let me introduce you to his son – Jóhannesson, whom at just 18 is already a mainstay in midfield for his Swedish top-flight employers.
The starlet whom was born in England while his father was donning the Claret & Blue in B6, made his Icelandic debut against England back in November 2020.
The central-midfielder who is also capable of doing a job out wide, is part of a new generation of footballers for his Nordic nation, which is going through a period of transition after some golden years.
Alongside him is another thunder-clap-son of the Premier League, Andri Gudjohnsen – the son of ex-Barcelona and Chelsea star Eider, who is also making waves in Real Madrid’s youth ranks.
Despite Jóhannesson’s tender age, the youngster currently averages close to a goal contribution every two games for IFK Norrkoping.
His rise to prominence has him strongly linked with moves to Manchester Utd and Liverpool, but let’s face it, if Johan Lange gets on the blower to his dad Joey, he’ll be down to Villa Park faster than Ginola could get his top off for John Gregory.
Having being born in England it may be possible to get a Post-Brexit work permit for this wonder-kid.
Verdict: Buy him for the laughs and the thunder-clapping.
UTV
Follow Liam on Twitter here – @LiamScahill
