---
title: "Aston Villa missed a trick by not signing Ben Brereton Diaz"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2022/09/14/aston-villa-missed-a-trick-by-not-signing-ben-brereton-diaz/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Thompson"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-09-14T05:55:00Z"
modified: "2026-09-03T11:38:32Z"
---

# Aston Villa missed a trick by not signing Ben Brereton Diaz

[Aston Villa](https://readastonvilla.com/) have not been particularly potent in front of goal so far this season, as only three clubs have racked up fewer shots on target than the Midlands club ([17](https://fbref.com/en/comps/9/Premier-League-Stats)).

Looking back to the previous summer transfer window, the Villans failed to add any new attacking players to their [ranks](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/transfers/verein/405), instead strengthening their midfield with Boubacar Kamara and their defence with Diego Carlos and Jan Bednarek.

One attacking figure the Villa Park outfit were [linked](https://www.teamtalk.com/blackburn-rovers/laliga-side-hatch-ben-brereton-diaz-plan-that-blackburn-will-be-furious-with) with that they should now be regretting not signing is Ben Brereton Diaz.

Last season saw the 23-year-old score [22](https://fbref.com/en/comps/10/2021-2022/stats/2021-2022-Championship-Stats) goals in 37 Championship appearances, leaving only two players in the league with more.

This season has seen the Chile international hit the ground running in hot form by scoring [four](https://fbref.com/en/comps/10/shooting/Championship-Stats) goals in eight league appearances.

In fact, only three other players in the second division have had more shots at goal than the Blackburn star ([25](https://fbref.com/en/comps/10/shooting/Championship-Stats)), showing how deadly he is in front of goal, which is something that Villa and Steven Gerrard need at the moment.

Bearing in mind how the Championship star has [played](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-brereton-diaz/leistungsdaten/spieler/426192) the majority of his league games on the left-hand side of the pitch, this could make him an ideal signing for Villa as he would give Gerrard the chance to play him as well as the likes of main strikers Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings.

[Lauded](https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forests-gary-brazil-makes-6069411) by Gary Brazil as an “elite” player, Brereton Diaz has scored [46](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-brereton-diaz/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/426192) goals in total throughout his career.

Moving forward, if Villa’s attack prowess doesn’t spark into life anytime soon, the club and Johan Lange should seriously consider making a move to sign the Chilean in the upcoming January transfer window.

With the player’s [contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-brereton-diaz/profil/spieler/426192) at Ewood Park set to expire in the summer, cashing in on him in January could be financially beneficial for Blackburn as well as giving Villa an extra attacking dynamic to their squad.