Aston Villa are undergoing a transition following the exciting appointment of Unai Emery, with a whole host of big names flying around the rumour mill as the January transfer market looms near.
And with Emery looking to write his own script at Villa Park, he will be looking to bolster areas across the park and drive the team toward the upper end of the Premier League table, with the club currently sat in 12th.
According to a report from French outlet Jeunes Footeux a few days ago, FC Lorient talisman Terem Moffi is on the radar of Aston Villa, with divisional rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace also interested.
And with the striker’s contract set to expire with the French team in 2024, his value may look to be utilised before dwindling past next summer, with the report stating that he would be available for roughly €20m (£17m).
Ings successor
Moffi has been in fine form this season, scoring ten goals from his first 14 fixtures in French Ligue 1, and could catch a ride to the Premier League after such stellar work for Lorient.
Journalist Zach Lowy hailed the 23-year-old as “fantastic” after an immense start to the Ligue 1 campaign that saw the striker emerge as joint top-scorer alongside Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe, would certainly be a fine addition to a Villa side struggling for goals.
Indeed, the forward would offer a freshly sharpened edge to the offensive sword, and could emerge as the first-choice option as the focal point in attack in swift time, taking the baton from Danny Ings, who has not quite set the midlands on fire since his £25m move from Southampton in 2021.
The 30-year-old only managed seven goals last season, his first for Villa, after scoring 46 in 100 appearances for Saints, and could certainly benefit from the assistance of a prolific marksman such as Moffi.
Ings does have five goals across 14 league outings this season, and still possesses an innate goalscoring edge, and could fuse very well indeed with Moffi, who may in time adopt the role as his own.
As per FBref, Moffi ranks within the top 16% of strikers for rate of non-penalty goals over the past year, and also within the top 18% for dribbles completed.
And with original praise such as being dubbed a “man of gold” by his Lorient boss Regis Le Bris, it is clear to see that he continues to add layers to his game with each passing month, edging ever closer to prominence on the European stage.
Emery has succeeded in observing swift positive action at Villa Park, and although he was only confirmed as manager in October, has already seen his side cast poor form aside and win three of the last four league outings.
This forward trajectory will indeed be music to the 51-year-old Spaniard’s ears, but further gains must be made, and signing Moffi could be a shrewd move in the winter market, beginning his knack for finding the net and melding him with the experienced strikers already plying their trade in Aston.
