Aston Villa Have Made A Move To Recruit This Napoli Defender: Decent Fit For Emery? | OneFootball

In a recent report, Il Mattino stated that Aston Villa have made a move to recruit Napoli defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo. It has been claimed that the Villans are showing interest in bringing the Italian talent to Villa Park this summer.

Di Lorenzo’s Impressive Form In Serie A This Season

The 30-year-old is having an impressive campaign at the Naples club as he has put in a string of impressive displays on the right side of their backline. Di Lorenzo has participated in 42 matches for Napoli this season, netting two goals and grabbing eight assists in multiple competitions.

The Italian full-back has been a positive influence in both halves based on his average of 1.5 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 1.1 clearances, 1.0 shots, 1.4 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per game in Serie A. He has even been tidy when distributing the ball from the right flank after making 87.5% of his attempted passes in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).

His current contract at the Italian club will run out in the summer of 2028 which could make it tough for the Villans to sign him on the cheap at the end of this season.

NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 30: Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 30, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Will Di Lorenzo Be A Good Fit For Aston Villa Head Coach Unai Emery?

Di Lorenzo can do a bit of everything on the right flank. He is a good tackler of the ball and can make a few timely interceptions for his side inside his half. The Italian sensation usually clears the danger when required and can even set up a few promising chances for others around him in the opponent’s half. He can shoot the ball well from long range and is an energetic runner with the ball.

Di Lorenzo mainly operates as a right-back but can also play as a right-sided wide player or as a central defender if asked to do so. He is good enough to improve Aston Villa boss Unai Emery’s defence and could help the Villans compete across all fronts in the coming seasons.

At 30, Di Lorenzo has still got a few good years left in him to play at his best. Hence, he would be a good fit for the West Midlands club‘s needs in the short term. However, only time will tell whether the Italian full-back can cope with the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football. Still, Emery should consider launching a move for Di Lorenzo in the upcoming transfer window.