Aston Villa expert issues ‘100%’ verdict on Moussa Dembele signing – ‘there’s talk…’
Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested free agent Moussa Dembele would “100%” choose an “exciting” Aston Villa move over signing for Crystal Palace.
The former Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed his old side could aim higher in the summer window amid links to the likes of Ferran Torres and Marco Asensio.
Sources told this site last week (14 May) that Crystal Palace are interested in signing Lyon striker Dembele on a free transfer this summer.
It is believed Palace will face competition from a host of Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, as the Frenchman’s contract enters its final month.
Dembele has started sparingly for Lyon this season but has managed 70 goals in 172 total games for the club – and has almost managed a goal every two games throughout his senior career.
Villa only have Ollie Watkins and youngster Jhon Duran to call on in a striker role after selling Danny Ings in the January window.
When asked if Villa are a more exciting option than Palace, Agbonlahor told Football Insider’s Charlotte Cohen: “100%.
“Villa are by far the more appealing option over Palace. There’s a manager in place who has been one of the managers of the season.
“The turnaround Villa have had since sacking Steven Gerrard, and the project that is now in place – it’s huge, it’s exciting.
“Villa are a much bigger club than Crystal Palace – I think it would be a no-brainer to choose Villa.
“But they might now look at Dembele and move on to looking at other, better strikers.
“There’s talk of Ferran Torres, Asensio – there will be lots of players available.
“But if Dembele has the choice of Palace and Villa – he’s choosing Aston Villa.”
In other news, the real reason Mateu Alemany U-turned on joining Aston Villa revealed.