‘Aston Villa to sign Marco Asensio’ after Unai Emery green light
Aston Villa are already putting plans in place to sign Marco Asensio on a permanent deal from PSG, according to their former scout.
Mick Brown, who worked as a senior scout at Villa Park and as the chief scout at Man United, and remains very well-connected at his former clubs, exclusively told Football Insider that work is already ongoing behind the scenes.
Unai Emery and Villa’s coaching staff have been impressed with his performances in the early stages of his loan deal and are already leaning towards making the move permanent.
PSG, meanwhile, are keen to offload the 29-year-old at the end of his loan spell and will welcome any offers Villa are prepared to make in the summer.
Asensio’s vast experience across some of Europe’s top teams including Real Madrid and PSG is also viewed as a valuable asset to Emery’s side.
Villa are hoping to establish themselves as regulars in European competition, particularly the Champions League, and the likes of Asensio could play key roles in their progress.
Aston Villa working on permanent Marco Asensio deal
Brown told Football Insider on 16 January that Emery had been speaking to his contacts about a deal for Asensio, before the loan was eventually agreed on 3 February.
Now, the former scout who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted that it would be in all parties’ favour to make his loan move permanent.
“He’s a player with proven ability at the very top level,” he told Football Insider.
“The clubs he’s been at in his career, he’s got plenty of experience with the very best sides, and that can only come as a boost to Villa and their European hopes.
“I’m not sure why PSG have been so keen to offload him, whether he’s been carrying an injury or there were other issues, but they are looking to move him on.
“Since he came to Villa though, I’ve heard nothing but good things about him.
“On the evidence of what I’ve seen in his couple of appearances, he looks perfect for Villa.
“I think Emery and his staff will have been impressed as well, and they’ll already have started working behind the scenes to see if they can make the move permanent.
“A lot will depend on the role he plays while on loan, but at the moment I’d say that’s where they’re leaning.
“He’s a player with a lot of qualities that fit well in Villa’s side, so it’s a move that will suit all three parties.
“PSG want to move him on, he’s keen to leave, and Villa will be better off if they can keep him beyond the end of the season and will be working to make that happen.”
PSR threat looms at Villa Park after January spending spree
Villa were one of the Premier League’s busiest sides in January, with Donyell Malen, Andres Garcia, Marcus Rashford and Axel Disasi joining alongside Asensio.
However, that may cause them further issues amid fears that they have come close to breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
As a result, they may be forced to sell players in the early stages of the summer transfer window before they can move to strengthen Emery’s first-team squad.
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