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Genk’s Mbwana Samatta was a reported target in the summer, and there’s continued “Premier League” interest in the Tanzanian forward.
Words: Regan Foy | @findfoy
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Aston Villa may have re-ignited their interest for another Jupiler League summer target, Mbwana Samatta, in recent days.
According to Kristof Terreur, the journalist who broke news regarding Wesley’s record-breaking move to B6 – as well information on Marvelous Nakamba’s – KRC Genk are ‘braced to lose’ their forward to an ‘unnamed Premier League side’ in the coming weeks for a fee believed to be around £8,500,000.
With a record of a goal in every two-and-a-half games for Genk, Samatta is perhaps an exciting prospect for the Premier League – and at 27-years-old, should be hitting his prime years as a forward.
Samatta is strong, agile, and seems to be able to pull goals out of thin air – reminiscent of Benteke during the slow decline of the Aston Villa before their relegation.
In the summer, when Mbwana Samatta, who is a Tanzanian international and would be the first of which to play in the Premier League, was linked – it was for a fee of around £15,000,000 – so perhaps patience for this so-called ‘unnamed club’ has paid off.
We compared a number of summer striking targets with a benchmark of forwards during that window, and Samatta was grouped alongside other forwards like Michy Batshuayi, Jamie Vardy and Callum Wilson, in that these forwards retain possession well and are talented and proficient, but not great at team-work.
As it was evident then, Samatta is a better option than the seemingly declining Christian Benteke.
The forward has recently been away with Racing Genk during their winter retreat in Malaga, and work for a move to the Premier League could have been well under way before that.
With Brighton & Hove Albion, Norwich and West Ham United all previously linked with Mbwana Samatta too – there are four potential options for the Tanzanian’s ‘unnamed club’.
Let’s just hope it’s Villa.
