Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has noted that talented youngster Lamare Bogarde could emerge as an option for him at right-back this season.
The 20-year-old has established himself as one of our top young prospects since joining us in 2020, and after signing a new contract earlier this month, his long-term future at Villa is secured.
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Initially, speculation suggested that he could be loaned out this season to continue to gain valuable experience and develop his game, but ultimately, as the transfer deadline came and went on Friday night, Bogarde remains part of the senior squad this year.
As per The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Emery has now revealed that he’s been working with Bogarde to play at right-back, as given his versatility, he can be deployed in that role, in his more natural position as a centre-half or even as a defensive midfielder.
However, with Matty Cash’s injury setback set to sideline him for around three to four weeks, and as Villa failed to land touted priority transfer target Lutsharel Geertruida, we’ve been left light in that area of the squad with Kosta Nedeljkovic expected to now take on a bigger role earlier than expected.
Emery does of course have the option of shifting Ezri Konsa across if necessary, but the Villa boss has already suggested that he prefers not to do that this season, having tweaked our set-up and the way in which we now prefer to build our play out of our own third.
In turn, Bogarde may well get opportunities to impress this year, and having made a positive impression in pre-season, albeit with clear areas in which he must still improve as he continues to adapt and develop physically and tactically, it’s hoped that he’s up to the task when called upon.
Villa’s financial restrictions this summer were undoubtedly a big influence on our inability to perhaps bring in a desired reinforcement for the right-back and right-sided centre-half role, and so with a busy season ahead of us as we look to compete on four fronts, Emery will likely have to lean on our youth players in certain games as he rotates and rests key individuals, and Bogarde could be in line for an important role.
