Aston Villa failed to sign a defensive-midfielder in the January transfer window after being linked with Boubacar Kamara, Rodrigo Bentancur, Glen Kamara and Yves Bissouma, but they came closest to signing the latter. Villa were unable to agree a fee with Brighton & Hove Albion, so they turned their attentions elsewhere – a decision Ashley Preece of Birmingham Live said they could regret.
He wrote in a Q&A: ‘Villa could well rue that decision to walk away from that Bissouma deal. Brighton wanted double (£50m) what Villa offered (£25m) which was quickly rejected.’
Villa aren’t short of midfielders with Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Marvelous Nakamba, Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Sanson at their disposal while Carney Chukwuemeka provides cover and Tim Iroegbunam waits in the wings for an opportunity, but Steven Gerrard needs a player who will sit in front of the back-four.
Bissouma was identified, having won 12/22 aerial duels, making 26 successful dribbles, attempting 770 passes, making 28 clearances, being dribbled past only eight times and averaging a tackle (56) or interception (33) every 15 minutes, but Villa weren’t willing to pay more than £25m for the Malian international.
Brighton wanted £50m, however, so a deal never got over the line. Whether the Midlands outfit will return for Bissouma over the summer remains to be seen.
