I mean he was an up-and-coming player when he started in the first team at Chelsea, definitely on my radar, but not playing regularly in a functional team’s killed him. He’s a good age, he’s fast and has the level of stamina we desperately need in the midfield. He’s like a more highly skilled version of John McGinn at Villa and you know I love him. He’ll get goals and we need that in midfield too. I do worry he doesn’t have the passing quality we need, but if he’s playing in a winger position in the 4-2-3-1 or in a 3-man midfield in the 4-3-3 that won’t worry me too much.
I know Ten will have a plan for him, will rebuild his confidence, and if he starts performing to the level he once did it could be a great signing. If he pulls a Sancho and needs time away to get his head right, it could go the other way royally. It’ll be interesting to see if this gets done. I’m reading about what Chelsea wants for him and it’s absurd. I’d take him, but not at a ransom. I want Douglas Luiz for that money. Go get Asensio, he’s on a free, and pick up Sabitzer if Chelsea won’t budge.