There is a gaping hole in Steven Gerrard’s jigsaw. One that leaves this Aston Villa side feeling oddly incomplete. Still lovely to look at, of course, but your eyes are immediately drawn to the missing piece, situated right in the middle of an otherwise pretty picture.
“One hundred per cent, a defensive midfielder is going to be the summer priority,” former Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor predicts, via The Express.
Then again, you probably don’t need Derren Brown – let alone Agbonlahor – to read the inner workings of Gerrard’s mind. especially after that limp 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United, a game in which Douglas Luiz left Gerrard ‘infuriated’ with his performance in the number six role.
The former Rangers boss admitted himself recently that Aston Villa had failed with a bid – rumoured to be £35 million – for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Yves Bissouma in the January transfer window.
“The Bissouma deal is one I imagined they really wanted,” Agbonlahor adds. “But they won’t pay over the odds for someone who hasn’t got long left on his contract.
“Villa probably think they can cope without Bissouma until the summer. Then you can get him in the summer for a lesser. amount.”
Is Bissouma too expensive?
According to The Athletic, Aston Villa are planning to do exactly that. Bissouma has just over 12 months remaining on his deal. And Brighton will know, deep down, that it makes sense to cash in while they can still command a sizeable fee for their Malian maestro.
The Star believes that Brighton still value Bissouma at £45 million, however. That is £5 million less than Leicester City would want for Gerrard’s other defensive midfield target; Wilfred Ndidi.
And at least Bissouma would arrive on the back of another superb individual campaign. Another slack, sloppy Ndidi performance in Leicester’s 2-2 draw against West Ham United on Sunday highlighted how far his standards have slipped in recent months.
But if Aston Villa are willing to take a risk on someone without Premier League experience, then look no further than Ligue 1. Some of the finest ‘number sixes’ of recent times have emerged from the so-called “League of Talents’. And we could soon be adding Cheick Doucoure’s name to the likes of N’Golo Kante, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.
Bissouma, too, arrived at Brighton after making his name across the Channel at Lille.
Is Cheick Doucoure Aston Villa’s missing piece?
“Cheick knows how to do everything on the pitch,” Lens captain Seko Fofana explains of his less-heralded team-mate. “He works in the shadows and, for me, he is very important.
“He is incredibly complete. He’s one of the best players I’ve played with. He knows how to shoot from a distance, how to pass, break the lines, dribble, defend.”
According to Made In Lens, Aston Villa submitted a £10 million bid for Doucoure last summer. If they are willing to put another £6 million on the table, then a deal may be forthcoming this time around.
According to former Lens ace Zakaria Diallo, Doucoure was ‘disappointed’ to miss out on a move to Tottenham Hotspur last summer. He obviously thought he was ready for the Premier League some six months ago.
After another season of Ligue 1 football under his belt, you can guarantee Doucoure will be chomping at the bit when the window opens again.
He’s younger than Ndidi and Bissouma. Cheaper too. And undoubtedly more attainable.
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