Udinese director Pierpaolo Marino has played down reports linking Gerard Deulofeu with a return to the Premier League at Aston Villa, telling TV12 that the Serie A outfit are under no pressure to sell any of their key players.
Whisper it but, with his 29th birthday approaching, Deulofeu might finally be making good on his potential. After spells at Barcelona, Sevilla, Everton, AC Milan and Watford, the four-time Spain international is finally adding end product to his speed and skill at the Stadio Friuli.
With 13 goals and five assists, the 2021/22 campaign was the best, most consistent season of Deulofeu’s career.
Aston Villa hope to bring Gerard Deulofeu back to the Premier League
Unfortunately for Udinese, Watford’s one-time FA Cup hero may feel he has unfinished business in England; Tuttomercatoweb reporting that Deulofeu is open to joining Aston Villa during the final two weeks of the winter window.
“There has been an interest from Aston Villa,” Deulofeu’s agent tells Football Italia.
TMW now say that talks between Villa and Deulofeu are underway. Though an Udinese side without a win since early October will not be forced into a sale; the Zebrette desperate to arrest an alarming dip in form.
“Now, with the market open, we’ll hear all sorts of things,” says Marino. “It’s part of the game and we know that very well.
“We will certainly not lose the important players we have, thanks to the solidity of the Pozzo family (Udinese’s owners). In January, we never need to sell our best players.
“Individually and collectively, we are strong. And we absolutely must not forget this.”
Deuloufeu, one of the most enigmatic and mercurial footballers of the last decade, was labelled a player with ‘world class’ potential by Roberto Martinez during a second spell at Everton all the way back in 2015.
Now approaching his peak, perhaps Unai Emery is the coach who can finally turn all that theory into practice.
“With Gerard Deulofeu, we all know the incredible world-class talent he has,” Martinez said (BeIn Sports).
“What is very impressive is his determination of becoming as good as he can be. With a player of his natural talent, you need that feeling and emotion in order to perform.”
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