Why Aston Villa should plot a January swoop for Bradley Dack

Back in June, the Sun had claimed that Aston Villa were one of the English clubs interested in signing Blackburn Rovers midfielder Bradley Dack. However, a deal didn’t materialise and the 25-year-old stayed put at Blackburn.

Bradley Dack hit 18 goals and10 assists for Blackburn this past season, emerging as one of the most talented attacking midfielders in the Championship. However, he hasn’t been able to recapture last season’s form and currently has five goals and an assist in 16 Championship games.

The versatile attacker is into his third season at Ewood Park having arrived from Gillingham in 2017. Despite Dack not hitting top form so far in the new Championship campaign, Aston Villa must revive their interest in him during the January transfer window.

Bradley Dack in action for Gillingham. (Getty Images)

For all the plaudits which greeted their performances against Manchester City and Liverpool in recent weeks, Dean Smith’s side find themselves in a rut. Smith needs to turn the tables quickly and should look to freshen up his squad a bit in January.

One area Villa should focus on reinforcing is the midfield, with Smith in dire need of a back-up for skipper Jack Grealish. Plus, Trezeguet and Anwar El Ghazi were brilliant up against Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold yet, against Wolves, were anything but poor.

The duo needs to find levels of consistency as Villa continue to lack competition in wide areas.

That’s where the signing of Bradley Dack would make sense for the Claret and Blue. The midfielder has been playing well at Ewood Park over the past two seasons and is an important player for Rovers.

An attacking midfielder by trade, the former Gillingham star can also play in a deeper role in midfield as well as on either flank.

Aston Villa's John McGinn (L) with skipper Jack Grealish (R) in the Premier League. (Getty Images) — Aston Villa’s John McGinn (L) with skipper Jack Grealish (R) in the Premier League. (Getty Images)

More Aston Villa News

As per WhoScored.com, Dack has averaged 2.1 shots, 1.1 key passes, 0.9 dribbles per game in the Championship this season. At 25, he fits the ethos of a very young Villa squad and does have the potential to play in the top-flight.

Verdict

A creative player who can be the ideal back-up to Grealish, Villa must go all out to sign Dack in the New Year. And if the Villans manage to sign him from Rovers in the mid-season trading period, it would represent a coup for Smith.