Aston Villa Are In Advanced Talks To Land This Atletico Madrid Defender: Should Emery Snap Him Up? | OneFootball

In a recent report, Calciomercato claimed that Aston Villa are in advanced talks to land Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso. It has been stated that the Villans are eyeing a move to bring the Spanish centre-back to Villa Park this summer.

Hermoso’s Impressive Form In Spanish Football

Hermoso has managed to put in a handful of solid performances at the centre of Diego Simeone’s backline during this campaign. The 28-year-old has found the back of the net on two occasions and grabbed one assist in 36 appearances for the Madrid outfit this season in multiple competitions.

The Spanish defensive ace has been a dominant presence when defending inside his half as he is averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 2.9 clearances per game in La Liga. He has even been careful when distributing possession from the back after making 87.1% of his attempted passes in the Spanish top tier (stats via whoscored).

His current contract at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium will expire at the end of this season which could open the door for the Villans to recruit him on a free transfer in the summer.

TOPSHOT – Atletico Madrid’s Spanish defender #22 Mario Hermoso blocks the ball during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final football match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, on January 10, 2024. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

Should Aston Villa Snap Hermoso Up?

Hermoso loves a tackle and can read the danger well to earn the ball back for his side on the defensive third of the pitch. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when the opposition are on the offensive and can use his powerful 1.84m frame to win a few aerial duels for his team inside his half.

At the moment, Hermoso is enjoying his football at Atletico Madrid. However, he is on an expiring contract which makes him a good, cost-effective option for the Villans to consider at the end of this campaign.

At 28, Hermoso is playing in his prime and is well-equipped to make an instant impact at Villa Park if he can make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League. Plus, he might help Aston Villa challenge across all fronts in the coming seasons.

We can expect him to inject more bite and steel into Unai Emery’s defensive department. Hence, the West Midlands club should consider trying everything they can to snap Hermoso up on a free transfer later this year.