Why Aston Villa should sign Mike van der Hoorn in the summer window
According to a report in the Sun, Championship hopefuls Aston Villa enquired about the possibility of getting Swansea City defender Mike van der Hoorn in January. The Birmingham-based club were quoted a price tag of around £10m.
However, with the player’s contract set to expire at the end of this season, Villa may bide their time and sign him when he is available on a free transfer. (Sun)
As per Wales Online, van der Hoorn is himself unsure whether Swansea would keep him beyond the upcoming summer. The Dutchman has the idea of playing for a club with slightly higher ambitions.
At one stage, the contract talks with the Welsh club were progressing well, but no breakthrough was made. Hence, the situation is such that the defender would most probably be available for nothing. Here’s why Aston Villa should pounce on this opportunity in the summer:
Villa need depth and quality at the back
It has been pretty clear all season long that Aston Villa are short on depth and to some extent, quality at the back. At one stage, before the January window, they had two fit centre-backs in James Chester and Axel Tuanzebe, with James Bree as a back-up.
They made some inroads in the window by getting Tommy Elphick back mid-way through his loan spell at Hull City and signed Tyrone Mings from Bournemouth on loan for the rest of this season.
Looking at that, the prospect has improved with the addition of two new centre-backs. But the fact that Mings and Tuanzebe are here on loan moves evidently suggests that Villa need a centre-back on a permanent deal, who can stay at the club for a long period of time and strike a partnership with either of Elphick or Chester.
Dean Smith’s men are currently ninth in the table, only four points behind the playoff spots for the promotion. It is not an overstatement to mention that they have a real chance of at least finishing in the top-six and give themselves some chance of getting promoted.
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While the defensive cover would be enough for the next three months, signing new centre-backs in the summer window shouldn’t be overlooked. Villa won’t get a better option than Mike van der Hoorn, and if the Dutchman is available, the club must get him. The 26-year-old is an experienced player who has the qualities to enhance the quality of any back-line in top-level football.