Aston Villa join the race to sign Turkish wunderkind: A good option for the team

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Mainz midfielder Erkan Eyibil, it has been claimed.

The 17-year-old midfielder has been touted as the “next Mesut Ozil’ thanks to his remarkable performances in the German youth leagues. However, the Villans could face stiff competition for his services.

According to Turkish Football, Villa will compete with arch-rivals West Brom for Eyibil.

Erkan Eyibil: An interesting option for Aston Villa

It goes without saying that Aston Villa will be preparing for life without Jack Grealish next season. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has attracted the interest of several top clubs across England and a big-money move could be on the horizon.

Grealish’s departure will certainly weaken Aston Villa’s creative department, especially with the likes of Anwar El Ghazi and Albert Adomah struggling with lack of productivity. And although the midfield duo of Conor Hourihane and John McGinn have combined 22 assists between them this season, the addition of Eyibil could be imperative for the Villans next season.

As mentioned earlier, Eyibil has been in terrific form in the youth leagues, having been involved 20 goals in just 19 matches in the A-Junioren Bundesliga this season.

Despite boasting a relatively tall figure, Eyibil is quite an agile attacker, who has showcased excellent combination play with his teammates. His neat footwork coupled with his clever movements could offer some much-needed dynamism in the final third for Aston Villa next season.

Eyibil also excels in one-touch football, which is sure to help him to integrate to the faster-paced nature of English football. But most importantly, it is his proficiency from set-pieces that make the 17-year-old an ideal target for the Villans.

The attacker will provide some much-needed competition in the creative department and with proper guidance, can be groomed into a top class playmaker.

That being said, the Turkish youngster is reportedly keen to play in the top-flight next season. That means securing the promotion to the Premier League could be important for Aston Villa this season if they are to sign Eyibil in the summer.

However, the 17-year-old will be a risky option as well, given his lack of experience in professional football. Therefore, remaining at Mainz next season could be the most logical choice for Eyibil, who will surely be presented with an opportunity to make his mark in the Bundesliga next season.