On this evidence, a summer move to Aston Villa could leave a 2023 league champion biding his time on the bench.
If it ain’t broke, as they say, then don’t waste your time trying to fix it.
And there certainly isn’t anything broken in Aston Villa’s backline if Saturday’s 2-1 win at West Ham United is concerned. Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres picked up where they left off before the off-season, rock solid in defence and as cultured and classy as ever in their build-up play.
It was a trademark, left-footed Torres pass which laid the foundations for Jhon Duran’s late decider at the London Stadium.
Matty Cash, meanwhile, held his own on the right-hand side. While Mohamed Kudus caused a few scares – as he is wont to do – Cash’s galloping forward bursts and his tough-tackling ways helped Aston Villa exercise the ghosts of 2023’s opening day thrashing by Newcastle.
So Lutsharel Geertruida, should he swap Feyenoord for Villa Park before the window closes, would clearly have a fight on his hands forcing his way into Unai Emery’s starting XI.
Aston Villa eye Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida
HITC reported nearly a fortnight ago that Aston Villa had opened talks with Geertruida’s camp.
Feyenoord are trying to tie the Rotterdam-born Dutch international down to a new contract. But, as things stand, Geertruida – recently valued at £25 million – is due to leave De Kuip on a free transfer in 2025.
Mario Been, the legendary Feyenoord midfielder, has no doubts about the 24-year-old’s ability to make the step up to a club of Aston Villa’s ambitions. But as talented and as versatile as he may be – equally comfortable in the centre or wide on the right – Konsa, Cash and Torres would take some shifting.
“Just try to stop a boy like that”, Been tells ESPN. “Of course he wants to make a step to a big competition. Is he ready for that?
“Absolutely. Definitely.”
Geertruida was an integral part of the Feyenoord side which claimed the Eredivisie title under now-Liverpool boss Arne Slot in 2023. He also donned the captain’s armband for large spells of last term, showcasing his renowned leadership qualities in the red-and-white shirt of his hometown club.
Liverpool themselves held discussions earlier in the window. There was interest from West Ham too, before The Hammers landed Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice.
Diego Carlos could leave Villa but Fulham move on
Interestingly, HITC can confirm that Aston Villa had scouts in the stands during Feyenoord’s 5-1 obliteration of PEC Zwolle over the weekend.
Liverpool and Man City were also in attendance with Geertruida starting alongside the similarly Premier League-linked David Hancko, Santiago Gimenez and Quentin Timber.
Should Aston Villa win the race for Geertruida, meanwhile, could open the door for £26 million Brazil international Diego Carlos to depart. Fulham appear to have shifted their focus to Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen, though Emery appears willing to listen to offers from elsewhere.
“He is training well. He is in the squad for tomorrow,” Emery told Birmingham Mail of Carlos, who was left on the bench at West Ham.
“He is going to do his best in an Aston Villa shirt and defend us. Diego Carlos is in the squad travelling to West Ham and it’s not changing the circumstances we have now. He’s going to be here.
“(But) we plan in case he is leaving. We are planning it.”
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