Aston Villa keeping tabs on young Portuguese prospect

According to O Jogo, Portugal's weekly sports newspaper, several Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, are tracking the progress of Braga winger Roger Fernandes. It is believed that alongside Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Brighton and Newcastle, Villa and Unai Emery are monitoring his development intensely as his performances for Braga are getting better and better.

The 18-year-old is a 'fiery attacker' according to experts in Portgual and has made over 50 caps for Braga already. With 8 goals and 8 assists to his name so far, he is settling into life in professional football comfortably and he is being praised for his performances in Portugal's top flight. Braga sits sixth in Liga Portugal and Fernandes scored his first goal of the season against Champions League side Porto just a few days ago.

How would he fit in at Villa?

One of Unai Emery's key objectives as manager of Aston Villa is to assemble a squad that will continue to compete in elite European competitions for the foreseeable future. Many young talents such as Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey and Jhon Duran are already playing pivotal roles in a team playing Champions League football and Fernandes would fit in nicely in that pool of young talent.

The signing of Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough and his development in such a short space of time is evidence of Unai Emery's immense capability of identifying young talent.

Naturally a left-footed right winger, he forms a similar mould to that of Villa winger Leon Bailey. Known for his pace and trickery on the ball, the report from O Jogo suggests the next step in his development will see him convert from playing as a Guinea-Bissau youth international to the Portuguese national set-up when eligible in January 2025.

Despite being under contract with Brag until 2028, it is likely that it wouldn't cost the club a huge amount to sign the youngster and should Unai Emery wish to pursue the interest in him then Villa will push hard for his signature.

UTV