Aston Villa have been warned that a number of their Premier League rivals are now circling one of their players ahead of a potential summer move, according to a new report.
Emery delighted with Brentford win
After being thumped 4-1 by Crystal Palace in their previous Premier League outing, Aston Villa returned to winning ways at the weekend as they beat Brentford 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium. Ollie Watkins’ second-half strike was enough to seal all three points for Emery’s side, who jumped up into seventh place with the victory.
Speaking after the game, Emery was full of praise for his side – particularly goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who was standing in for the injured Emi Martinez, and his back four.
“[Olsen] did a fantastic job today, and the back-four as well, a fantastic job,” aid the Spaniard, via The Birmingham Mail. “We achieved those three points, it is giving us the confidence and the belief in the Premier League to try to continue in fighting for a European position.”
Emery also praised defender loanee Axel Disasi, who is on loan from Chelsea, for his performance at right-back, which saw him named as the Man of the Match.
“Of course, when he played against Liverpool as a centre-back he played good. When he played as a right full-back at Palace and Brugge he was progressively getting better to try and get confidence. Today I think he went one step forward more, playing and succeeding better.”
Villa to face English competition for Disasi
Disasi has started five of the six games he’s been eligible for since joining Villa on loan from Chelsea in February, and has impressed with his stalwart displays in defence. Described as a “monster” by Villa’s fans and “brilliant” by Jamie Carragher, reports in France state Villa want to keep hold of the Frenchman beyond the end of the season.
Foot Mercato reports, however, that if they want to do that, they will face stiff competition from a number of other Premier League sides, who have also been impressed by his performances for the Villans. They don’t mention which clubs are interested, but warn Aston Villa that they must be “wary” about the domestic competition.
Disasi himself has already hinted that he wants to stay at Villa Park beyond June: “They have brought me here to help and I am ready. For the moment, I am just here to play for the six months, but at the end of that, you never know. We’ll see what happens.”
In other Villa transfer news, the Villans have also been tipped to complete the permanent signing of Marco Asensio, who has impressed since moving to the Midlands on loan from Paris Saint-German.
“I think they’ll push ahead and sign him, Emery has been a huge fan for many years,” former Villans CEO Keith Wyness said of Asensio in a recent intervierw with Football Insider. “He’s a talent, and he seems to fit the number ten role that Emery wants him to play. I think they’ll do it.”
