27-year old left back Neil Taylor has known Wales for most of his adult life. Now, the defender turns to England and Aston Villa Football Club. Will he displace the incumbent Jordan Amavi?
Aston Villa made a curious deadline day move on Tuesday, acquiring left back Neil Taylor and £5 million for out-of-favor forward Jordan Ayew. Ayew, currently involved in Ghana’s AFCON semi-final run, was sold to Swansea City just 18 months after signing from Lorient under Tim Sherwood.
This move stands out for two reasons: 1. Jordan Ayew was far and away Villa’s best player last season in the Premier League. He was the only attacking player capable of doing anything productive in the absence of good midfield play. 2. Neil Taylor plays a position already occupied by a solid player, Jordan Amavi.
It is the fear of the unknown around Jordan Amavi that drove Aston Villa to acquire Neil Taylor. Not all that long ago, owner Tony Xia indicated on Twitter he declined a £25 million bid for the 22-year old left back. An egregious error if true.
There might only be three to four left backs in the world that command that type of sum. Jordan Amavi is not one of them: Yet. “Yet” being the keyword. Amavi’s potential is well noted in the football world through his early performance in the Premier League. However, a cruciate tear dismantled his season before it even took off.
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Moreover, it limited him early in the current campaign. Aly Cissokho deputized until Amavi returned 100% match fitness – which took about one month.
Unlike Cissokho however, Neil Taylor can push Amavi to new heights. Both players are well regarded attackers who use their pace and one-on-one ability to beat opposing players.
Neil Taylor evidenced this through his Euro 2016 performances with Wales. Operating as a left wing back, Taylor and his fellow Welshmen made a well documented run to the semi-finals. The five man back line (Or three man, depending on one’s perspective) of: Taylor, Ben Davies, Ashley Williams, James Chester, and Chris Gunter stifled opponents from qualification onward.
Not only does Taylor aid Amavi’s development in the now, but he provides a quality starter should Amavi depart Villa in the summer. Seemingly every large club in Europe is going to come calling Bodymoor Heath about Jordan’s services. Some of the clubs who inquired about Amavi last summer? Liverpool and AC Milan. Only the knee injury, Xia’s persistence, and promise of first team football at Villa prevented a sale.
The deal seemed strange at first, but Villa received a quality left back and cash in the face of growing uncertainty at the left back position.