Aston Villa: Yannick Bolasie becomes the club’s 4th loan signing of window

Everton winger Yannick Bolasie is Aston Villa’s 4th loan signing of the summer transfer window. Twenty months removed from major knee reconstructive surgery, can the 29-year old get back to his Crystal Palace form?

Aston Villa take another gamble on a marquee name through the Premier League loan market. Yannick Bolasie, two years prior a £25 million player, will don the claret and blue this season.

Bolasie is the second winger to be acquired this week after Wednesday’s signing of former Netherlands international Anwar El Ghazi. Together, the pair figure to compete for both left and right wing positions, flanking Jack Grealish, John McGinn, and Jonathan Kodjia.

It took nearly 13 months for Bolasie to return after an ACL tear against Manchester United on December 4th, 2016. The following year on Boxing Day marked his homecoming in a 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion. That marked the first of his 17 appearances last season, where he scored just one goal with zero assists in a little under 900 minutes.

Villa Verdict:

Bolasie represents another low-risk, high-upside play for Aston Villa.

It’s fair to wonder if he’ll ever reach his pre-injury days again, but Villa can afford to find out. At his best, Bolasie was an absolutely explosive dribbler with a mean left foot. Right wing is his primary position, but with Crystal Palace he was utilized at left wing, centre-forward, and second striker as well.

The DR Congo international attacker occupies the club’s 4th ‘matchday’ loan signing. NSWE can bring-in more loan additions, but only 5 can dress for any given EFL game. As such, it’s pointless to acquire more than one additional loanee.

This situation could change if Villa turn 1 or 2 of these loan players into permanent signings. El Ghazi and André Moreira would be the likely candidates for such a move.

With a replenished attack force, now is the time for Steve Bruce & staff to pile on wins.

Welcome, Yannick!