Norwich City have nabbed Barnsley’s Marley Watkins from under Aston Villa’s nose – but Aaron Mooy is still on the market.
You have to give credit to Norwich City. Even though the transfer window only officially opened on Thursday, The Canaries already appear to have secured one of the bargains of the summer.
According to the BBC, Marley Watkins has signed a three-year deal at Carrow Road after his contract expired at Barnsley. With 10 goals and nine assists to his name in the Championship in 2016/17, the versatile wideman was linked with a whole host of second tier clubs and his arrival ramps up the revolution kick-started by new Director of Football Stuart Webber.
On the flipside, however, this is a major blow to Aston Villa’s ambitions. Eastern Daily Press claimed they were one of the club’s chasing Watkins and it’s fair to say Steve Bruce’s side needed him more than Norwich, the joint top scorers in the Championship in 2016/17.
Furthermore, with The Telegraph claiming that Financial Fair Play restrictions mean Villa will be forced to sell before they buy this summer, Watkins’ free-agent status would have come in very handy indeed.
Nonetheless, Villa will now be forced to look elsewhere for a player to provide that much-needed cutting edge from midfield. And who better than Aaron Mooy?
Aaron Mooy was included in the Championship Team of the Year
The Manchester City-owned playmaker was arguably the most impressive midfielder in the Championship last season, pulling the strings for a Huddersfield Town side who defied the odds to reach the top flight for the first time since 1972.
And, according to The World Game, Villa are desperate to sign the diminutive Australian this summer. And although his £10 million price tag could be a sticking point, Villa could fund a move for Mooy by flogging a number of their ill-fitting players, from Aaron Tshibola to Ross McCormack.
Signing Mooy would be a real statement of intent. One that would even equal Norwich’s signing of Watkins.
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