Aston Villa have reportedly made an approach to sign Lens defender Kevin Danso on loan as we look to strengthen our defensive options.
The 26-year-old joined the Ligue 1 side in 2021 and has since gone on to make 128 appearances, while he’s been capped 24 times by Austria.
READ MORE: Villa trio deliver on potential for devastating partnership in thrilling win
With previous experience in the Bundesliga during a spell with Augsburg and in the Premier League after a stint at Southampton, he has competed at a high level and with his defensive strengths and characteristics seemingly suiting Unai Emery’s preferred way of playing, it appears as though he has attracted interest from us.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Villa have made an approach to sign Danso on loan, but there is competition from Juventus and Rennes, and so it remains to be seen just how much of a priority he is, or if we ultimately miss out and have to consider alternative targets.
What is absolutely clear at this stage is that we must bring in a defensive signing before the transfer deadline, as with Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings currently sidelined by injury while Diego Carlos departed to join Fenerbahce earlier this month, we are worryingly short of options at the back.
Boubacar Kamara did an excellent job filling in against Celtic in the Champions League in midweek, but that can’t be the solution until we get both Mings and Torres back as we need a more natural option and to play Kamara in his most effect role in midfield, while we need additional competition and depth which we lost with Carlos moving on.
In turn, whether it’s Danso or an alternative target, Monchi and Villa must move to add to the squad in the coming days, and it’s hoped that whoever we see as the priority and the ideal fit for the current squad is the player we ultimately bring in to improve the group and helps us compete at a higher level.
With Jhon Duran expected to complete his big-money move to Al-Nassr imminently, there are other areas of the squad that also need to be addressed, and so it promises to be a busy few days for Villa to end the January transfer window.