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Aston Villa: Four-Horse Race For The Right CB Position

By Josh Tonti

BRUGGE, BELGIUM - APRIL 16: Bjorn Engels of Club Brugge and Ilombe Pele Mboyo of Racing Genk battle for the ball during the Jupiler League match between Club Brugge v Racing Genk at the Jan Breydel Stadium on April 16, 2014 in Brugge, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
BRUGGE, BELGIUM - APRIL 16: Bjorn Engels of Club Brugge and Ilombe Pele Mboyo of Racing Genk battle for the ball during the Jupiler League match between Club Brugge v Racing Genk at the Jan Breydel Stadium on April 16, 2014 in Brugge, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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When Björn Engels signs from Stade de Reims, Aston Villa will have four players competing for a place opposite Tyrone Mings in the defense. It’s going to be exciting to watch.

ICYMI: Aston Villa completed the signings of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa in the last week, ensuring Dean Smith has the requisite defenders to launch a successful debut season in England’s top flight.

But the club isn’t done, however, per multiple reports.

24-year-old Belgian centre-back Björn Engels is closing in on a £7-9 million move from Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims. Engels was one of the best defenders in France last season; he completed a breakthrough season after injuries halted development at Club Brugge (and Olympiacos), where he was teammates with fellow Villan Wesley Moraes.

Engels is a giant, standing at 6’4″. He has been called into the Belgium National Team several times, but has yet to make his debut. He was selected for Euro 2016, but a late thigh injury ruled him out for the tournament.

With this incoming move, Engels brings the total number of senior centre-backs to five: Mings, Engels, Ezri Konsa, Kortney Hause, and James Chester. It’s safe to pencil in Mings for the starting position at left centre-back, at least initially.

That leaves four players fighting for a place opposite him. Engels’ age and experience at the top flight in three different leagues probably gives him a slight edge, but really any are capable of stepping up and winning the competition. Engels and Mings’ injury pasts, coupled with the uncertain physical status of Chester necessitates keeping five centre-backs for the duration of a Premier League season. Moreover, it allows the option for three centre-backs looks from the manager, if need be. When you factor in rotation and cup competitions, it’s fair to suggest we’ll see all five defenders this season, health permitting.

Left-Back: Targett, Hause, Taylor

Left Centre-Back: Mings, Hause, Konsa

Right Centre-Back: Engels/Konsa/Chester/Hause

Right-Back: Guilbert, Elmohamady, Bree

For the first time in a long, long while, Aston Villa can feel completely satisfied with the state of their backline.

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