Aston Villa swing-man Leandro Bacuna was spotted at the Madejski Stadium for Reading vs. Fulham. The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, showed The Curaçao international to his potential new teammates.
Leandro Bacuna is on his way out at Aston Villa. The reasoning, which is quite disheartening, is that he wants to leave for being booed off in Villa’s 1-1 draw in the opening match of the season against Hull City. Very poor, Villa fans.
Fact or fiction, it’s quite clear Bacuna will not be an Aston Villa footballer for much longer. Reading, who have long been linked to the player, invited him to their home Championship match against Fulham.
Presumably, he’s in for a medical and official announcement. The reported fee is still being discussed. We’ve heard £1.5 million being floated around, and it should be in that vicinity.
19-year old midfielder Callum O’Hare was a revelation in Villa’s 2-1 Carabao Cup triumph. He even came off the bench for 35 minutes in the Championship on Saturday. Between he, Lansbury, Onomah, Hourihane, Whelan, and Jedinak, spots in central midfield are tightening up. Despite the fact Bacuna was a shock starter on the opening match weekend.
Leandro Bacuna outside the Madejski today ahead of his transfer from Aston Villa. [📸: @MILLSYBOY3] #readingfc #avfc pic.twitter.com/7F6M2b2M8z
— Talk Reading (@TalkReading) August 12, 2017
Verdict:
Meh, I feel for Leandro Bacuna, even if he has not been particularly good for two seasons. He has legitimately played at least eight positions for Aston Villa under numerous managers. He does whatever asked of him with passion and a proper amount of aggressiveness. Now 25, it’s time for him to get more comfortable in a set role in a set system.
£1.5 million is a fair fee I suppose. However, Aston Villa will be hard fought to find a better player at that price, especially one young, affordable, and under contract for many years, as Bacuna is.
Selling Bacuna further depletes the depth in Villa’s ranks; one that is already decreasing through injuries (See: Elmohamady, Ahmed; Green, André). Perhaps we’ll look back in three years’ time and think selling contributors like Baker and Bacuna for little, was a major mistake.