Aston Villa aim to sign striker who crushed their European hopes as upgrade

Aston Villa have shown a strong desire to secure the services of Olympiacos striker Ayoub El Kaabi, in light of his outstanding displays in the UEFA Europa Conference League according to Aston Villa News. The Moroccan international's exploits, which included netting the decisive goal in the final against Fiorentina, have piqued the interest of Villa boss Unai Emery.

El Kaabi's prowess was on full display during Olympiacos' semi-final encounter with Aston Villa, where he scored five goals across both legs, contributing to the Greek side's 6-2 aggregate victory.

His debut season with Olympiacos has been nothing short of spectacular, with the forward netting 33 goals and providing three assists in 50 appearances across all competitions. El Kaabi's European exploits have been particularly noteworthy, scoring 11 goals in just nine knockout stage games.

Aston Villa's search for a striker to complement or challenge Ollie Watkins has led them to consider El Kaabi as a potential upgrade over young Colombian forward Jhon Duran. Despite showing glimpses of quality, Duran has been limited to just three league starts under Emery's management.

The Spanish tactician has occasionally deployed Watkins alongside a second striker, indicating that a centre-forward like El Kaabi could form a formidable partnership with the 27-goal hero.

With Duran reportedly attracting interest from Chelsea and potentially seeking a move away from Villa Park, El Kaabi's arrival could provide the perfect solution. Described as a potential goal machine by journalist Jonas Adnan Giaever, El Kaabi's track record of making an immediate impact at his previous clubs, including Hatayspor and Wydad AC, further highlights his ability to hit the ground running.

As Aston Villa look to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming season, the acquisition of Ayoub El Kaabi could prove to be a shrewd move. His goal-scoring prowess and European experience would undoubtedly bolster Villa's chances of success, both domestically and in their continental campaigns. The Moroccan international's performances have caught the eye of several clubs, but Aston Villa appear to be leading the race for his signature.

Fans will be eager to see if the club can secure the services of this prolific striker, who has proven his worth on the European stage and could be the key to unlocking even greater success for the Midlands club.

All eyes will be on Aston Villa and their pursuit of Ayoub El Kaabi, a striker who has the potential to form a lethal partnership with Ollie Watkins and propel the club to new heights.