International Round-Up: Aston Villa, AFCON, and more
By Josh Tonti
Aston Villa players Ahmed Elmohamady and Jonathan Kodjia featured in the opening round of the Africa Cup of Nations + news and notes from the rumor mill.
As the host of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt opened the tournament on Friday with a 1-0 win over Zimbabwe. Aston Villa’s own Ahmed Elmohamady captained the side and played 90 minutes at right-back.
Moreover, reported midfield target Marvelous Nakamba played for the opposing team:
Ahmed Elmohamady captained Egypt to a 1-0 victory in the #AFCON opener. #AVFC target Marvelous Nakamba played 90 minutes for Zimbabwe. https://t.co/lRdpmIhE05
— Claret Villans (@ClaretVillans) June 21, 2019
Several clubs have enquired about Marvelous Nakamba, defensive midfielder of Club Brugge. Club are willing to sell him at the right price, but are hoping that Nakamba’s fee could rise if he plays a good AFCON. Agents have offered him to Aston Villa. #avfc (with @niels_27) pic.twitter.com/pj57yQDdWg
— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) June 20, 2019
Villa’s other representative in AFCON – Jonathan Kodjia – got the start for Ivory Coast in the Golden Elephants’ opening game vs. South Africa. With a loaded attack featuring Nicolas Pépé, Wilfried Zaha, Max Cornet, Max Gradel and more, Ivory Coast are among the tournament’s favorites.
Kodjia starts up top for Ivory Coast. #avfc https://t.co/O5wmN11ukZ
— Claret Villans (@ClaretVillans) June 24, 2019
Kodjia opened the scoring on the 64th-minute!
Kodjia scores! 1-0 #avfc
— Claret Villans (@ClaretVillans) June 24, 2019
The search for a new holding midfielder continues. We’ve seen the Nakamba reports, we’ve previously seen links to Nantes’ Valentin Rongier. Last week, Stuart James wrote Villa are interested in Chelsea and Wales 18-year-old Ethan Ampadu, should he become available.
That, of course, is the kicker.
Chelsea face a one-year registration ban; meaning, many of the young players that spent time away on loan (Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount included) will compete for places in the first-team (under presumed new manager Frank Lampard). These situations will take awhile to materialize as the new staff make decisions during pre-season training. Players like Ampadu and United’s Axel Tuanzebe will be left late in the window.
Aston Villa are interested in signing Ethan Ampadu on a season-long loan from Chelsea if the teenager becomes available.
— Stuart James (@stujames75) June 15, 2019
Ampadu, 18, played more for Wales than Chelsea last season.
Villa will face competition if Chelsea let Ampadu go out. But a move to Villa Park has its merits
For Aston Villa, Ampadu on loan would be an interesting addition indeed. He’s a holding midfielder, which the club needs, but he can also operate as centre-back. With just Kortney Hause and the injured James Chester as senior central defenders, the club could use another body to fill both positions and soak-up important minutes.
The idea of more loans surely will induce groans from fans, but in this case it gives Villa a risk-free option for the Premier League, and possibly opens up the opportunity for a permanent transfer at a future date.