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Aston Villa should revive interest in this 26-year-old defensive midfielder who would be available for a free

Aston Villa Opinion: Why Nemanja Radoja will be a good fit for Aston Villa?

According to a report from El Desmarque in January, Celta Vigo midfielder Nemanja Radoja had reached an agreement to join Championship side Aston Villa but work permit problems meant the deal collapsed in the winter transfer window.

Nemanja Radoja, 26, has been completely frozen out of Celta Vigo’s first-team picture, with the defensive midfielder not making a single appearance this season so far. He is out of contract at the end of the season and will be available on a free transfer in the summer.

Considering his availability on a potential free transfer, Aston Villa should make another attempt to sign the 26-year-old Serbian.

Aston Villa have made a late surge for promotion, winning four out of their last five games in the Championship. After Norwich City, they are the most in-form team at the moment in the England’s second tier and their rich vein of form sees them occupy the sixth place in the standings.

Dean Smith had a lukewarm start to his life at Villa Park, but as time has progressed, he looks to have got a firm grip over his team. The Villans will need to continue churning out wins if they are to make it to the play-offs but whether they achieve promotion or not, Smith will have some big issues to address in the summer.

Villa’s defence has been all over the place this season, so it’s a no-brainer for the club to spend on defensive reinforcements in the transfer market. Apart from the defence, Smith’s side also has an ageing midfield, with Mile Jedinak and Glenn Whelan both 34 and 35 respectively, while Birkir Bjarnason will turn 31 in May.

The likes of Jack Grealish and John McGinn need a strong holding midfielder to express themselves freely and unlock opposition defences. That’s when signing Nemanja Radoja would make complete sense for Aston Villa.

Radoja is a cultured defensive midfielder that screens the back four using his tackling and interception skills. The two-cap Serbian is good on the ball and would slot right in at the base of the Villa midfield, giving the team more balance and mobility than someone like Whelan or Jedinak. He is known for his work-rate and tough-tackling, whilst being a good reader.

Verdict

Radoja needs a fresh start in his career after completely frozen out at Celta Vigo this campaign. The Serbian will need to choose his next destination sensibly to reignite his stalled career.

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The 26-year-old could be tempted to work with an astute tactician like Dean Smith at Aston Villa and if he completes a move, the midfielder can only grow and get better.