Aston Villa reportedly still see Sevilla centre-half Loic Bade as a priority transfer target to strengthen Unai Emery’s defence.
Villa were linked with a move for the Frenchman in the previous transfer window, but evidently a switch didn’t materialise, after it was reported that the 25-year-old wanted to remain with Sevilla.
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He went on to make 33 appearances for the La Liga side last season as he continues to play a key role for them, while he made his senior France debut last week and continues to improve and develop his game at the top level.
While Villa may well have considered other options after Bade’s decision in January, ABC de Sevilla report that he remains a priority transfer target for us and he’s now more open to the idea of leaving. That said, it’s noted as it was in January that the French international wants a prominent role if he were to move elsewhere, and given he’d face stiff competition for a starting berth from Ezri Konsa, it remains to be seen if that once again puts him off coming to B6.
That really shouldn’t be an influential factor if Bade backs himself to become a fundamental figure at Villa, while we’ll be competing across four competitions again next season and so there is likely to be plenty of rotation with every player in the squad having an opportunity to make their mark.
Time will tell if we’re successful this time round, but with his physicality, athleticism, defensive strengths and technical ability, Bade ticks a lot of important boxes that make him a good fit for Emery’s Villa, and so it’s no surprise in truth to hear that he remains on our transfer radar.
Villa are unlikely to make Axel Disasi’s loan stint a permanent switch, and so there is certainly a need from our perspective to bring in another right-sided centre-half to ensure we’re well covered in that department. Konsa has been used at right-back by Emery on countless occasions, and so Bade will hopefully arrive if Emery wants him as his top choice to reinforce our defence, and will in turn potentially prove to be an important influence in helping to shore things up after our backline was far too porous last season.
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