Aston Villa are interested in signing former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Steven Nzonzi from Roma. The Frenchman is currently on loan at Galatasaray, but he is set to leave the club after a dispute with the Turkish club.
As per Mirror Football, the 31-year-old, who has been suspended by the Turkish club, is keen on returning to the Premier League. Nzonzi played for Blackburn and Stoke City before moving to Sevilla and then Roma. The World Cup-winning midfielder played nearly 200 games in the Premier League before moving to Spain and then Italy.
His current contract with Roma expires in 2022. Steven Nzonzi has played 15 times in all competitions for Galatasaray this season, scoring one goal.
Steven Nzonzi: A shrewd midfield addition?
Aston Villa have had terrible luck with injuries, losing key players at inopportune moments over the course of their Premier League return till now. The Villans need a striker, which should be their priority, but could also use an experienced player in the middle of the park. The injury to midfielder John McGinn has affected Villa, while his replacement, Danny Drinkwater – who was brought on loan from Chelsea – had a nightmare debut against Manchester City.
Villa signed two midfielders, Marvelous Nakamba and Douglas Luiz, in the summer, but neither has been consistent and have not delivered to their potential. The likes of Conor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury have also not been good enough for Dean Smith’s team. And while they are still capable of doing the job on their day, Smith will want to bolster that area if the opportunity arises.
Steven Nzonzi could be a good signing for them as he has a wealth of experience, is a strong and physical presence in the middle of the park, and is a versatile player. The tall midfielder has good defensive sense, providing a solid shield to the backline in either the defensive midfield or central midfield positions, while he is also very good in the air. The Frenchman is also a neat passer of the ball, averaging 76.9 passes per game in the league for Galatasaray.
Steven Nzonzi’s frame and ability to keep the ball ticking will be very useful in midfield and could get the best of those around him. His vast experience will also be a bonus for the Villans, in their bid to stay up in the Premier League.
