Former Aston Villa man Alan Hutton has told Unai Emery to pair Ollie Watkins with Tammy Abraham, as while it would “cost a lot of money” it would be an “excellent move”.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Emery has done a fantastic job in his few months so far at Villa Park. He’s taken the Villans from the threat of a Premier League relegation scrap to a push for Europe, with his side currently seventh.
As such, were he to demand big sums of money to make squad improvements, it would be hard for the board to turn it down.
Having seen what he’s done largely with an inherited squad along with just two signings, they could expect even bigger things were they to grant him more funds.
Former Villan Hutton feels Emery should be looking to a former loan player of Villa’s to create a deadly forward duo.
“Tammy [Abraham] knows the club really well, he’s a great guy,” he told Villa News.
“I’ve played alongside him and I think the way Unai Emery plays, he’s got those two strikers who could play next to each other.
“You can have Tammy up there with Ollie Watkins off him, they could change and link up really well.”
Watkins is one of the most in-form players in the league right now. Indeed, in his last 10 league games, the Villa forward has scored eight goals and provided an assist.
Abraham has also shown a good eye for goal in the past. His best top-flight tally was 17 goals in Serie A for Roma last season, and he’s shown his form in England, having notched 15 Premier League goals for Chelsea in 2019/20.
That he’s reached 34 goals in his second season with Roma shows his talent, and returning to Villa could help that to be nurtured.
Hutton acknowledges it would cost a lot, but would be worth it for his talent and the link-up with Watkins.
“Yes, it would cost a lot of money but you’ve got to remember he’s come from a big team in Chelsea, where he scored goals in the Premier League,” Hutton added.
“He’s scored goals at Aston Villa and he’s scored goals at Roma so he’s been through a lot and he’s still young.
“If they can get hold of him for the right price, it would be an excellent move.”
Villa News cites an Italian outlet’s report which states Abraham would command somewhere in the region of £45million. Were he to have the impact he’s shown in some of his best seasons, that fee would be worth it.
READ MORE: Aston Villa boss Unai Emery responds to Ollie Watkins contract rumours – ‘He deserves it’
