Securing Kean ahead of Spurs could be a key addition in Aston Villa’s push to secure a top-four spot in the Premier League…
Aston Villa are setting their sights on a
high-flying striker as they look to
reinforce their attacking options ahead
of next season. With Jhon Duran’s
departure in January and Ollie Watkins
continuing to attract interest from top
clubs, Unai Emery’s side is reportedly
monitoring Fiorentina’s Moise Kean, who
has been in blistering form this season.
Villa’s January Shake-Up in Attack
The January transfer window was a busy
one for Aston Villa, with significant
movement in their forward line. Early
on, they secured the signing of Donyell
Malen from Borussia Dortmund, a deal
that was offset by Jaden Philogene’s
move to Ipswich Town. However, their
biggest moves came in the form of loan
deals, as they brought in Marcus
Rashford from Manchester United and
Marcos Asensio from Paris Saint-
Germain. Rashford’s arrival came with a
£40m option to buy, giving Villa the
flexibility to make the deal permanent in
the summer if he performs well.
Despite these signings, Villa also suffered
a major loss, as Jhon Duran departed for
Al-Nassr in a big-money move.
Meanwhile, Watkins, the club’s top
striker, was linked with a move to
Arsenal, though no deal materialized. As
a result, Emery now finds himself in a
situation where he lacks a natural
alternative to Watkins. While Rashford,
Asensio, and Malen are all capable of
playing centrally, none are out-and-out
number nines, making the signing of a
striker a priority for the upcoming
transfer window.
Kean’s Resurgence in Serie A Attracting Interest
Villa’s search for a new striker has led
them to Fiorentina’s Moise Kean, who
has been in scintillating form this season.
The 24-year-old, who previously had an
underwhelming spell at Everton, has
rediscovered his best form in Italy,
scoring 15 goals in all competitions so
far. His performances have been so
impressive that CBS reporter Marco
Messina described him as “remarkable,”
praising his ability to hold up play and
finish chances with clinical precision.
Kean’s numbers this season put him
ahead of Watkins in terms of goals
scored, despite playing fewer minutes.
Comparison: Watkins vs. Kean (Domestic League Only)
| Stat | Ollie Watkins | Moise Kean |
|——|————-|————|
| Appearances | 24 | 22 |
| Starts | 20 | 21 |
| Goals | 10 | 15 |
| Assists | 5 | 2 |
| Minutes per goal involvement | 110 |
108 |
These statistics highlight Kean’s
effectiveness in front of goal, making
him a strong candidate to lead Villa’s
attack should they manage to secure his
signature.
Release Clause and Premier League Interest
Kean’s resurgence has not gone
unnoticed, with multiple clubs now
considering a summer move. Reports
from Italy suggest that Villa have
“concrete” interest in the striker, who
has a £43m release clause in his contract
with Fiorentina, which will become
active this summer. However, they are
not the only Premier League club keen
on the Italian forward, as Tottenham
Hotspur are also keeping a close eye on
his situation.
With quality strikers expected to be in
high demand during the summer
transfer window, Villa will need to act
fast if they wish to land Kean. Despite his
struggles in England during his previous
stint with Everton, his form at Fiorentina
suggests he has matured into a top-class
finisher.
Would Kean Be a Good Fit for Villa?
Kean’s playing style could make him an
excellent addition to Emery’s squad. His
physicality, ability to hold up the ball,
and clinical finishing would provide Villa
with a different kind of attacking threat
compared to Watkins. Additionally, given
that Watkins continues to attract interest
from top clubs, signing Kean could offer
Villa security in case they lose their star
striker in the near future.
With Aston Villa currently pushing for
European football, adding a prolific goal
scorer like Kean could be the final piece
in their attacking puzzle. If they manage
to beat Spurs to his signature, it could
prove to be a crucial signing in their bid
to break into the Premier League’s top
four.
