Will Aston Villa and Newcastle United go back in for reported summer target Said Benrahma when the transfer window re-opens in January?
After five Premier League games, both Aston Villa and Newcastle United are getting an indication as to where the strong points in their team lie and in what areas they are perhaps lacking.
Both teams could rightfully point towards the final third as the area where they need more bite and a little something different, but will the likes of Dean Smith and Steve Bruce now rue the chance that they didn’t add that extra attacking player to their squad when the summer transfer window was still open?
One player that was linked with both Villa and Newcastle was Brentford winger Said Benrahma. Over the course of the window, more noise was coming from Villa’s end that they could potentially secure the services of the Bees player.
The Express claimed that Villa manager Smith was incredibly keen on a reunion with a player he coached at Griffin Park, but in the end, a move didn’t materialise.
Added with that, The Shield Gazette have claimed that Newcastle were also keen on Benrahma’s signature, but were put off by his asking price.
But it seems as though Benrahma is finding life a little tough during these opening seven games of the season, as he is yet to showcase his true worth.
The 24-year-old, who was injured during pre-season, ended up missing the first few matches of the campaign, but upon his return, he is yet to score a goal or provide an assist in five matches [transfermarkt].
As a result, Brentford have produced a number of indifferent results, from thumping Derby County before the international break to losing to Preston over the weekend.
There’s no doubt that Benrahma is missing that zip in his game and that extra yard of pace because if he can get that engine going then he will tear up the Championship once again.
But it will be interesting to see if his recent struggles do continue then whether Villa and Newcastle will look elsewhere because regardless of his current form, Smith, more than anyone, is well aware of what the Algerian is capable of.
Saying that, Benrahma could just be timing his run perfectly because if he does return to form then it’ll start to come when in these final few months of the year, which will only re-ignite talk once again that either Villa or Newcastle should go back in for his services.
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