Aston Villa make initial approach for Serie A defender

Aston Villa are in negotiations with Fiorentina over a move for defender Michael Kayode.

According to Italian football journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Villa have submitted a first proposal of £15 million + add-ons for the right-back.

The 19-year-old featured in 37 matches for Firorentina last season, starting 27 of those. Kayode found it difficult to cement his place in the team towards the latter stages of the season as long-term absentee Dodo returned to full fitness following an ACL injury. However, he had performed well through the main bulk of the season where he was the regular starter in his position.

Kayode is a defender with an athletic build and possess very encouraging stastics defensively. Last season, he won 84% of his tackles attempted as well as winning a high amount of his aerial duels. He also has promosing ability in the attacking third of the pitch, showing great capability to take players on 1v1 and being able to overlap to create opportunities. Something Villa certainly lack in Emery's team at the moment is a right-back that has the ability to overlap and create chances consistently.

The table below will show how his stats compared to Villa right-back Matty Cash last season.

The stats show that the players may be similar, but with his pace, physical strength and ability to get down the touchline to put crosses in the box it would suggest Kayode would be a potential upgrade on Cash. Cash has also been heavily linked with a move to Milan in the past couple of weeks.

Should these negotiations develop in the next few weeks into a transfer to the club, Villa would be in a strong position at right-back in terms of depth. Villa signed Kosta Nedeljkovic in January and having spent the second half of the season on loan at Red Star Belgrade. The 18-year-old will be joining up with the Villa squad at the start of pre-season.

UTV