Aston Villa has already acquired Kosta Nedeljkovic this month, but the Serbian won’t be the last player to be added to the defense.
This season, Unai Emery has had to rotate his defense a few times because of injuries and underperforming players.
In light of this, the Spaniard is apparently eager to return to Villa Park with a new center.
Aston Villa’s pursuit of a center back
Aston Villa is reportedly interested in signing Mario Hermoso from Atletico Madrid, according to reports last week from Spain.
The Spaniard, who will be a free agent in the summer, is eager to leave his current team in search of a fresh challenge.
This month, Emery will try to get Hermoso to sign, and something will probably happen.
Mario Hermoso’s potential position on the Villa squad
Tyrone Mings sustained an injury that kept him out of the game for the entire season, therefore he hasn’t played since the opening contest. But before that, the 30-year-old was a pillar of the defense and captain of Villa.
However, the possibility of signing a left-footed center-back suggests that Mings’ status as a Villa player may be in question. The Englishman has competition from Pau Torres, thus Hermoso’s arrival would push him lower down the hierarchy.
This season, the Atletico Madrid defender has been a huge asset for his team, starting 17 games in a 3-5-2 formation as the left center back. However, if Hermoso joined Villa in the summer, how would he fit in with the team? What kind of play does he employ?
Hermoso is “very good on the ball,” according to football reporter Zach Lowy, and that is what sets him apart from Mings, who sadly finished in the bottom 49% of Premier League center-backs for passes attempted in the previous season, according to FBref.
The 28-year-old Spanish player scores incredibly well in terms of passes completed, passes into the final third, and passes progressive passes—the last two of which show that he is not only confident with the ball but also courageous when in control.
In addition, Hermoso is a proactive defender who excels at ball recovery and challenges opposing players, using his strength and agility to thwart their attack. But Emery might have the ideal role for the La Liga player, allowing him to thrive in England.
With Alex Moreno leading the way as a high left wing-back and Ezri Konsa assuming the role of third center-back, the Spaniard has already showed signs of a new formation developing in possession. The similar strategy may be applied with Hermoso on the other flank, with Hermoso tucking in and a new right-back bursting forward.
Therefore, Hermoso’s signing would be a very wise business move, especially if it happened for free.
