Aston Villa opinion: Should the Villans go for Nemanja Radoja?

The Birmingham Live had reported that Aston Villa were linked with a move for Celta Vigo midfielder Nemanja Radoja. It is now being reported by the same outlet that the 26-year-old has agreed to a move to Real Betis.

Out of contract at the end of the season, the defensive midfielder has been frozen out of the Celta Vigo team after refusing to sign a contract extension with the club. However, Villa were still heavily linked with a move in January but nothing ever materialised (Eldesmarque).

At the moment, Aston Villa have Mile Jedinak and Glenn Whelan at their disposal, with manager Dean Smith alternating between the two.

They are both past the age of 30 and Villa need fresh legs in that area. Radoja is a talented midfielder.

The Serbian made his mark at Serbian side FC Vojvodina. This earned him a move to Celta Vigo, as the 26-year-old honed his skills in La Liga, making just under 150 appearances. It would have been more, had he not been frozen out of the team this season. He is yet to make an appearance in any tournament for the club.

Despite that, the 26-year-old still remains a good defensive midfielder and would fill a problematic position for Villa.

Radoja is a strong tackler and a decent passer of the ball. Radoja averages 1.8 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, and a passing accuracy of 85%, averaging around 34 passes per game.

The Lions need a consistent and reliable presence in midfield, to help them move the ball around the field effectively. They need someone who can do that, while also helping in defensive transitions.

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Conclusion

Both Jedinak and Whelan have played admirably all season, but they aren’t getting any younger, as witnessed this season. Radoja will give them a breather and should slip straight into the first-team.