Aston Villa’s star Moussa Diaby has been in sparkling form since his summer arrival, and transfer insider Dean Jones revealed to GIVEMESPORT what he did not expect of the French international.
Despite losing to Everton in the Carabao Cup, Unai Emery’s squad has had a relatively good start to 2023/24.
Moussa Diaby – Aston Villa news
Villa has had a rocky start to the season. Domestically, they are sixth after six games, having won four and lost the other two. Losing 5-1 to Newcastle United would have been a low point for Emery and his team, but they appear to have recovered, at least in the Premier League.
Their poor start to the Europa Conference League season has also been a thorn in their otherwise promising start to league football, as they were defeated 3-2 in a five-goal thriller by Legia Warsaw. Emery spent large – but wisely – throughout the summer months to increase their prospects of trophy this season, but their Diaby expenditure is the best of the bunch.
Given the promise he has showed week in and week out, many of England’s top clubs will be disappointed by Diaby’s £51.9m move to Villa Park. According to Transfermarkt, the former Bayer Leverkusen star has provided Emery and his entourage with a new outlet at the top of the pitch and complements Ollie Watkins perfectly.
A right-winger by trade, he has generally been used infield as a centre-forward in a two-striker formation alongside Watkins. Diaby, who earns a handsome £130k per week at Villa Park, had been monitored by Villa for the last two years and once they finally got their man, there was no looking back for the two-time European champions.
Moussa Diaby has thrived in his new role as Unai Emery’s Dean Jones.
Regarding the Frenchman, transfer insider Jones has conceded that, despite playing out of position, Diaby appears to have adjusted well to life in the Premier League. According to a credible source, he has earned his spot playing through the center, and it is now up to him to keep it under Emery. In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, he stated…
Will Villa Park sign Ollie Watkins to a new contract?
Watkins, Diaby’s companion up top, has not been his normal self in front of goal since the new season began, scoring only one goal in six Premier League appearances. This hasn’t stopped Emery and the Villa hierarchy from attempting to sign him to new terms.
According to BBC Sport, the Midlands club is currently negotiating a new long-term contract with the Englishman. Since joining Villa, the striker has grown into an England international, with seven caps. Transfer insider Jones recently told GIVEMESPORT that the relevant parties were in talks about a new contract, and that keeping his talents will be critical to Villa’s continued success.
Watkins joined Villa for a then-club record sum of £28 million – which could grow to £33 million – in 2020 and has shown to be a reliable threat in the final third since his arrival, scoring 47 goals in 126 games for the Villans. Granted, he has not been at his best in 2023/24, but Villa Park supporters must be patient in order to see Watkins return to his superb goalscoring form.
Over the summer, reports stated that Premier League trio Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal were all interested in signing him, as they were all looking for attacking reinforcement. The former Exeter City man, on the other hand, has remained unaffected and appears to be prolonging his stay in the Midlands.
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