Aston Villa could make a smart move by completing a loan deal for this promising 6ft 3in French starlet

Why Harold Moukoudi would be an excellent signing for Aston Villa

Championship outfit Aston Villa have submitted an offer for Le Havre centre-half Harold Moukoudi, as per the Sun. Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa have made a loan offer for Moukoudi with an option to buy him in January for £7million.

Villa can still sign players on loan until Friday’s deadline and Steve Bruce’s squad looks a little thin in central defence. Failing to earn promotion to the Premier League saw Villa lose John Terry at the end of last season and that has made signing a central defender a priority for Bruce.

Due to a lack of options at the back, Bruce has insisted on playing Mile Jedinak alongside skipper James Chester and the plan has not worked at all. Jedinak, a central midfielder by trade, has looked uninspiring in defence that has seen Villa leak seven goals in five Championship games so far.

The Australian is a solid operator in the middle of the park despite entering the twilight of his career, but it’s clear that if he continues to play in central defence, it could hamper Villa’s promotion hopes this term.

This makes the signing of Harold Moukoudi so important for Villa. A four-time France Under-20 international, Moukoudi came through the youth system at Le Havre and has since developed into a regular first-team player. He is an upcoming talent, who featured 44 times in all competitions for Le Havre last term.

Moukoudi is a physically strong, no-nonsense defender who possesses the physicality to shrug off centre-forwards with ease. His height of 6ft 3in allows him to win aerial duels and he can be a constant threat on the opposite end of the pitch during set-pieces. The Frenchman also contributed with four goals in Ligue 2 last season, which clearly shows the threat he possesses from dead-ball situations.

The 20-year-old is strong, robust, calm, composed on the ball and is a good reader of the game. Moukoudi is known for defensive diligence, as he rarely gets flustered in pressure situations. He knows how to bring the ball out from the back. So far so good, he has proven to be an exciting talent emerging from France and is certainly destined for a bright future.

At 20, Moukoudi has the potential as well as the time to develop into a top centre-back. Due to his physical attributes, English football appears to be the right place for his development. He would be an impressive capture for Bruce, considering Celtic are also interested in his services.

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So for Villa to win the race for Moukoudi’s signature would signal the lofty ambitions that those in charge at the Midlands club have. Under Bruce’s guidance, the 20-year-old ace can unleash his full potential and go on to become one of the best defenders in Europe.