Aston Villa struggled majorly under Steven Gerrard during the early part of this season, with the club recording just two Premier League wins before he was sacked in October.
Unai Emery has since been appointed as the club’s new manager and has immediately improved their fortunes, securing the same amount of league victories as Gerrard this season, albeit in eight fewer matches.
The 51-year-old still has a lot of work to do, however, and with the club scoring 16 league goals so far while conceding 22, there are areas Emery will need to strengthen.
The Spaniard can also get rid of players who have underperformed too, with Ollie Watkins one of the main protagonists in this regard, scoring a paltry three goals all term. The £75k-per-week striker could find things difficult now there is a new manager, especially since the club have been linked with an international forward…
Villa can ditch Watkins for Marcus Thuram
Journalist Dean Jones told GIVEMESPORT that Villa could be in a good place with regards to a potential move for the Frenchman, saying: “We’ll just have to see who has a nibble on that and decides to actually make an approach.
“Certainly, Villa should be well positioned just in case it gets down to them and they actually do have a run at getting him.”
This will be a big boost for Emery and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, Thuram could be available for as little as £6m in the January transfer window, which would represent a massive bargain.
In the Bundesliga alone this season, the Frenchman has scored ten goals in just 15 matches for Borussia Monchengladbach, chipping in with three assists and he has also made 0.9 key passes on average, proving he can create opportunities for others.
Indeed, his manager Daniel Farke dubbed him “world-class” due to his form, and having been selected for France’s World Cup squad, he could yet end up following in his father’s footsteps of becoming a world champion with Lilian Thuram having won the 1998 edition.
Villa urgently requires someone who can add some dynamism to their attack, especially with Watkins and fellow striker Danny Ings failing to set the world on fire this season. Thuram could be the perfect replacement for Emery.
For a fee of £6m, a potential move could also prove to be a shrewd investment, especially if he carries his Bundesliga form into the Premier League.
