Aston Villa must sign 'monstrous' Nathan Ngoy as 'exceptional' World Cup stats emerge
Nathan Ngoy should be a target for Aston Villa this summer after he enjoyed a superb World Cup with Belgium.
The Lille defender was brilliant again on Friday despite his team's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Spain in the quarter-final, with Mikel Merino bagging the winner.
The 23-year-old already reportedly had Premier League admirers in March, and that interest will only have grown in recent weeks.
Ngoy is under contract at Lille until 2029 after he arrived from Standard Liege last summer, but the French club are expected to be open to key sales.
Villa could well be on the hunt for centre-backs this summer, with Ezri Konsa linked with a move to Arsenal.
The Villans remain hamstrung by the profit and sustainability rules, and Ngoy could present the slightly cheaper deal decision-makers are targeting.
Nathan Ngoy impresses in stats vs Spain
At Villa, there is a need to prioritise younger defenders in the transfer market.
Summer arrival Modou Keba Cisse is the only centre-back under the age of 28 in Unai Emery's squad, and he is likely to go out on loan next season.
Especially should Konsa leave this summer, Villa will need to attack the market to refresh the base of their team.
Ngoy could well be a prime candidate for that action. The 23-year-old has proven his ability on the grandest stage at this World Cup.
Against Spain, he ended the game with more defensive contributions than anyone else on the pitch.
The 23-year-old made two tackles, two blocks, nine clearances, one interception and three recoveries, winning two duels, too.
And on the ball, Ngoy showed his quality as well. The Belgian misplaced only two of his 40 attempted passes and was not dispossessed.
Belgian media wax lyrical about Ngoy
Ngoy only made his debut for Belgium's senior team in March, and had just four caps before he was selected for the World Cup opener.
A huge mistake that saw him sent off against Iran in the second game threatened to ruin the young defender's tournament, but he picked himself up.
Back the youngster came for the round of 16, and earned himself huge plaudits for his displays against both the United States and Spain.
Voetbalkrant gave Ngoy an 8.5 out of 10 for his display on Friday. Johan Walckiers wrote: "What an absolutely monstrous match from the Lille player.
"He gave nothing away, let nothing pass, and closed down every space that opened up behind the defence. His best match as a Devil, and further proof that he is here to stay."
In a similar tone, 7sur7 gave him a seven out of 10, and wrote: "He initially seemed a little lost. [Mikel] Oyarzabal, who often dropped deep, didn't make things easy for him. But he quickly found his rhythm, defended aggressively, and repeatedly found himself in the right place to block shots.
"An exceptional performance. His successful World Cup has certainly attracted the attention of major European clubs. In any case, his future with the Red Devils looks promising."