---
title: "Villa must sign Jordan Amavi as Neil Taylor’s successor"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/01/05/villa-must-sign-jordan-amavi-neil-taylor-replacement/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-01-05T10:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-05T10:00:00Z"
---

# Villa must sign Jordan Amavi as Neil Taylor’s successor

Neil Taylor is [out of favour under Dean Smith](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/neil-taylor/leistungsdaten/spieler/67416) and [out of contract next summer](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/neil-taylor/profil/spieler/67416), so Aston Villa will need a replacement left-back when the season comes to a close.

[Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12166204/january-transfer-window-2021-premier-league-clubs-assessed-who-needs-what) claimed that a left-back is on Villa’s radar in January and Amie Wilson of [Birmingham Live](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-fans-jordan-amavi-19557784) noted that [Jordan Amavi](https://readastonvilla.com/2017/08/10/jordan-amavi-completes-move-olympique-marseille/)’s contract at Marseille expires in a matter of months, so might the 26-year-old be a cost-effective option?

Amavi [left](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jordan-amavi/transfers/spieler/241229) Villa for Marseille in 2018 and has gone on to make [119 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jordan-amavi/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/241229) in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit, scoring three goals and supplying 10 assists.

The Frenchman is coming to the end of a [three-year contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jordan-amavi/profil/spieler/241229) at the Stade Vélodrome and has [interest](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8949873/Palace-target-Marcos-Alonso-Patrick-van-Aanholt-contract-end-season.html) from Crystal Palace, but Villa might have the edge in negotiations.

### READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT

Amavi made [48 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jordan-amavi/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/241229/verein/405) for the Midlands outfit between 2015 and 2018 and might be seduced by Villa’s bright start to the season. Villa are currently [eighth](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/tabelle/wettbewerb/GB1/saison_id/2020) in the Premier League and have [taken points off](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Fixtures/England-Aston-Villa) Liverpool, Leicester, Arsenal, Wolves and Chelsea, so they’re no longer a struggling club.

Amavi would be a good addition to the squad, too. In Ligue 1 this season, he has averaged a tackle (11) or interception (26) every 20 minutes and recorded more [successful dribbles](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/134902/Show/Jordan-Amavi) (10) than Villa’s [first-choice full-backs](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/leistungsdaten/verein/405) Matty Cash ([five](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Show/England-Aston-Villa)) and Matt Targett ([four](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Show/England-Aston-Villa)) combined, so he should certainly improve the squad if Smith moves for him.