Aston Villa is looking to hold off Tottenham Hotspur in the race for the top four to be assured of Champions League football for next season.
Therefore, Villa is looking to improve their squad depth by bringing in Ben Johnson to bolster their defense. Johnson is a current fullback in West Ham United whose skills have been impressive despite the club’s deteriorating in comparison to last season.
However, with many clubs such as Tottenham, Wolves, and Everton looking to sign the play, will Villa be appealing enough for Johnson?
Aston Villa Options
Toward the end of the season, many clubs across Europe start setting the pace in signing players with huge potential to improve their squads. Therefore, news regarding Johnson being linked to multiple clubs in the English top-flight league has come as no surprise. This is in consideration of how Johnson has performed in the current season.
Either Villa or Tottenham will be the likely destinations for the player considering they have a significant chance of competing in the Champions League. The two clubs have a three-point gap with Villa having the advantage and are current number for after game week 33.
Aston Villa’s Champion’s League Hope
After the 0 – 2 away win against title contenders, Arsenal FC, Aston Villa is expected to have improved confidence. Subsequently, Aston Villa might have positive magnetism toward many players should they manage to get a spot at the highly coveted UEFA Champions League (UCL) football. Johnson might also be tempted to join the club in order to get a chance to showcase his skill at the highest level and compete amongst the best.
Johnson’s Significance to Villa
Even though Johnson has only made 13 appearances in the 2023-2024 English Premier League season, Villa are likely to use him for squad depth. The player has been receiving praise from David Moyes, current West Ham manager, which validates him as a good defender.
It is imperative to consider that Aston Villa needs to maintain its standard in the next year’s EPL, hence the need to make signings early to avoid competition from top clubs. Johnson also played in Europa which suggests that he has experience in competing amongst clubs outside England. This attribute is important for Aston Villa because they would need experienced players should they go far in the Champions League.
Villa’s Risk vs. Reward
Many clubs often want to sign players with experience especially if they are looking to play in the UCL. However, experienced players often come at a price that may put clubs off. Aston Villa is looking to sign Johnson despite his low experience but huge potential with validation from a coach such as Moyes due to the player being for free. Johnson’s contract is expected to expire in the summer and Villa may capitalize on it. Only time can tell whether Johnson will end up competing at a high level.
Conclusion
Aston Villa has had an impressive season and adding Champions League football would only add value to the club to the point of attracting players. The majority of players often want to play at the highest level which is in the Champions League. Therefore, Aston Villa’s signing of Johnson may be contingent on the qualification for next season’s UCL.
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Faith Jepchirchir is soccer fan from Kenya who developed an interest in the sport by playing FIFA on PlayStation. Here, Chiri brings her unique perspective to the world of sports, analyzing matches and sharing her love for the game.
