- Aston Villa are one of seven club monitoring Barcelona winger Roony Bardghji
- Whilst the Barcelona want a permanent sale, Bardghji would prefer a loan
- €20-25 million (£17.2-21.6 million) is the expected fee region
Aston Villa have reportedly entered the running for Barcelona winger Roony Bardghji, who is free to leave this summer. It comes as part of Unai Emery’s plans to target at least one if not two wingers in the summer transfer window.
Despite previously targeting wide playmakers and versatile forwards, who play more inside, Emery has decided this summer to pursue pacy wingers. Villa’s lack of an established winger on the right-hand side has accelerated this, given the rapid decline of the performances of Leon Bailey.
Often, the Villans have slow build-up play in the attacking third, combined with a shortage of pace. Adding an explosive winger would change the dynamic of Villa’s attack and offer Emery a different dimension to what he already has.
This change in tactical directive has led Villa to formally join the chase for Barcelona’s highly-rated Swedish winger, Roony Bardghji. The 20-year-old burst onto the European radar during his breakthrough years with Danish club FC Copenhagen before sealing a high-profile move to the Camp Nou.
Despite his immense ceiling, Bardghji has endured a challenging debut season in La Liga under Hansi Flick. He has accumulated just 801 minutes across 28 appearances in all competitions, with 9 starts.
Barcelona’s delicate financial landscape is heavily influencing the situation, making the Catalan giants receptive to offers. While the young attacker personally favours a temporary loan spell to preserve his long-term pathway in Spain, reports indicate that Barcelona are willing to consider a permanent sale.
Villa face stiff competition
For Villa, winning the race for Bardghji’s signature requires navigating an incredibly crowded field of international and domestic rivals.
Specifically, SportsBoom’s Ekrem Konur has revealed that Ajax has entered the frame as a formidable candidate, having already engaged in discussions with Barcelona regarding a potential loan structure.
Beyond continental interest from the Eredivisie, Villa face intense Premier League competition, with a total of six English clubs making concrete inquiries into the Swede’s availability.
Leeds United are considered long-term admirers and are pushing hard with an attractive sporting project centered around guaranteed playing time.
Additionally, Brighton, Brentford, Everton, and Sunderland have all registered firm interest as part of their respective strategies to lower squad age and inject youthful velocity into their forward lines.
Ultimately, Villa holds a distinct advantage over many of their immediate transfer rivals like Ajax and Leeds by offering the enticing lure of elite European and English football, and the chance to develop under a world-class manager like Emery.
ReadAstonVilla verdict
Villa’s pursuit of Bardghji signals a crucial tactical evolution under Emery to inject necessary speed into an often stagnant attack. By targeting a traditional, explosive winger to replace the declining production on the right flank, the club is addressing its most glaring offensive deficiency.
While there is plenty of competition, which presents a significant obstacle, Villa’s ability to offer elite European football gives them a definitive edge.
Securing the Swedish prodigy would not only provide Emery with a new tactical dimension but also cement Villa’s status as an incredibly attractive destination for Europe’s elite young talent.
