Aston Villa have shown this season how important and prominent their midfield players are for the team.
Specifically, only eight other clubs in the Premier League have had more touches of the ball in the midfield third of the pitch than the Villans (4717), which is more than the likes of Manchester United (4677) and Newcastle United (4375).
One figure in Unai Emery’s squad that has shown how much of an important midfielder he is for Villa this season is Douglas Luiz.
With 18 league appearances to his name, the Brazilian has played more minutes than any other midfielder at the club.
Across those appearances, Luiz has made more touches in the midfield third of the pitch (502) than any of his teammates and completed more key passes (20) than any other Villa player.
So far in this current transfer window, Emery has brought in a new defender in the shape of Alex Moreno and recently secured a deal for striker Jhon Duran.
With some time left before the window closes, if Emery wants to complete the set and add a new midfielder to his ranks, one player that the club have been linked with that we feel would give the Villa manager the chance to form a dynamic duo alongside Luiz is Matteo Guendouzi.
This season has seen the Marseille midfielder rack up the third-highest passing accuracy percentage (86.4%) at the club out of players that have made more than two passes in Ligue 1.
Would you take Guendouzi at Villa?
Yes
No
He also has the third-highest number of passes into the final third of the pitch (82), showing that he is not only very comfortable in possession but also very effective at moving the ball forward, similarly to Luiz.
Praised in the past for his “superb” defensive work in the past by journalist Peter Rutzler, Guendouzi’s experience of playing in the Premier League could also make him a smart signing for Emery and Villa to make this month, in addition to the prospect of him creating a dynamic midfield partnership with Luiz.