To say that Aston Villa have endured a major overhaul this summer would be an understatement. The Villans have lost almost half the side that started in the Europa League final against Freiburg just a few months ago.
Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans have already sealed departures, whilst Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez are also heading for the exit door.
But what that has allowed Villa to do is spend big for the first time in years. They’ve splashed out on Johan Manzambi, Zion Suzuki and are set to welcome Nicolas Jackson for around £65m.
They’re not done there, though. Ibrahim Mbaye is also on his way. The Paris Saint-Germain star has looked likely to leave the French giants all summer, with Liverpool in the driving seat at one stage. As deadline day approaches, however, it is Villa who have stolen a march on their rivals.
Dubbed “amazing” by scout Jacek Kulig, Mbaye is one of the top young talents around and is already a Champions League winger. As far as reviving their frontline goes, welcoming the teenager is certainly not a bad move from Unai Emery and Co.
|
Ibrahim Mbaye in Ligue 1 25/26 |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
997 |
|
Goals |
3 |
|
Assists |
2 |
|
Dribbles per 90 |
1.9 |
|
Chances created per 90 |
1.81 |
There’s good reason why Liverpool were after his signature. Mbaye is quick, direct and full of potential. Just last season at PSG, the youngster was trusted from the start at venues like the Nou Camp, where he played 65 minutes in a 2-1 victory.
The numbers paint the picture of an emerging star, too. Last season, the Senegal international completed 1.9 dribbles per 90 in Ligue 1 – more than Bradley Barcola who is set to leave PSG for as much as £120m this week.
Aston Villa reach agreement to sign Mbaye
As reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Aston Villa have reached an agreement to sign Mbaye from PSG. The Villans have officially hijacked Liverpool, who failed with their move not long before.
The deal itself is set to cost the Midlands club a hefty €55m (£47m), but that is a price well within Villa’s range after so many sales throughout the summer.
With Mbaye, Jackson, Alejandro Garnacho and Manzambi arriving in recent months, it truly is a new era for Aston Villa’s frontline. Emery will simply hope to have the same success with these attackers that he had with the previous era, which ended in Europa League victory.
Out of all the new signings, it is the PSG man that stands out as the most exciting of the lot. This is a player who’s already played on the biggest stage of European football and performed whilst doing it. Aston Villa are set to land an absolute gem.