Unai Emery ‘speaking to contacts’ over Villa-Marco Asensio deal
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been “speaking to his contacts” about a possible move to sign PSG star Marco Asensio, according to the club’s former scout.
Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected at Villa Park and also worked as the chief scout at Man United and Blackburn, exclusively told Football Insider that the attacking midfielder, who turns 29 later this month, could be open to a move to England.
Since joining PSG that summer, he has made 46 appearances for the club, scored seven goals and provided 11 assists, but failed to cement his place in the side.
So far this season, the Spaniard has started just eight of his side’s 17 league games under Luis Enrique, and there is a feeling he could leave in search of improved playing time.
Although primarily an attacking midfielder, Asensio can also play on both wings or as a centre-forward, and it is that versatility which has made him a target for Aston Villa.
Unai Emery and Monchi key to Aston Villa signing Marco Asensio
Both Emery and Monchi have retained close contacts in Spanish football, while the boss remains well-connected at his former club PSG, and they are now expected to utilise those in their attempts to land the Spain international.
Brown, 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 signing a player of Asensio’s talent and reputation could provide a significant boost to Villa.
“Unai Emery and the director of football will already know him well,” he told Football Insider.
“They’re likely to be speaking to their contacts in Spain about him, about his availability and whether that would be a deal they can do this month.
“Emery was at PSG before, so he’ll be speaking to people there too.
“They’ll have a very good idea about what his level is and where he’ll fit into the team.
“Ron Atkinson always used to say – anybody can make a mistake in the transfer market, but not when it’s a player you already know well.
“So Villa will have to be confident about whether the move will pay off before they bring him in, and they’ll be working to ensure that is the case.
“He’s got a very good reputation and his talent and quality is certainty there.
“He’s also a player that’s been on Aston Villa’s list for a while, they’re big fans of his.“
In other news, Aston Villa ‘will sell Diego Carlos this month’.
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