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After a never-ending summer of links, many are reporting that Rashica is now in advanced talks with Aston Villa.
Words: Mark Jirobe | @VillaMarkPGH
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A bit of breaking transfer news as the international transfer deadline edges closer and closer across the footballing world. Milot Rashica, the Werder Bremen wide-man who’s been linked with Aston Villa on and off again since the transfer window has been open, is supposedly very close to joining the Birmingham-based club on a five-year deal.
According to two Sky journalists, Max Bielefeld & Sven Tollner, Rashica & Villa are in the midst of ironing out details that would bring the 24-year old into a squad that has been mightily improved from last season. Rashica coming in the doors at Aston Villa would add to a flanking core of Trezeguet, Jack Grealish, Anwar El Ghazi, & newcomer Bertrand Traore.
After Spaniard Jota departed this past week through mutual termination of his contract, some Villa supporters were worried about a lack of depth in wide areas.
The drama of Rashica leaving Werder Bremen was mired in controversy and confusion; with the player rumoured to be looking to move away from Bremen due to their finishing position last season in Bundesliga. Reported to not want to leave Bremen for another side slated for relegation, the business that Villa has done in the transfer window may have convinced him that Villa are in fact a club on the rise. Rashica was heavily linked with RB Leipzig early in the window, but those links have cooled off since.
This could be a gamble of sorts for Rashica if the deal goes through, who would likely demand a fair amount of time on the pitch to showcase his abilities. Rashica scored 18 goals in 68 Bundesliga matches and has a flair for assisting on goals as well. Adept at set-piece deliveries is also a strong point to his game, which seems to be an ongoing trend at Aston Villa in more recent times.
Rashica does fancy playing on the left flank, and Villa fans will be curious if the deal goes through if Rashica will be seen as a direct substitute for captain Jack Grealish or push Grealish into the middle of the pitch to be reunited with John McGinn. No matter your opinion, Rashica definitely adds quality to a side who want to see 17th position in the Premier League in the rear-view mirror.
In the past, Rashica has been seen as a a player with “x-factor” by other clubs he has been linked with, especially due to his determination not to be greedy on the ball, but also the awareness to know when to pick his spots.
