Aston Villa have announced the loan signing of three time UEFA Champions League Winner Marco Asensio who is joining for the rest of the season.
The 29-year-old midfielder joins ‘The Villans’ having only made 12 appearances for French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG manager Luis Enrique has played a rotating cast in a midfield three which has not included the Spain international.
Aston Villa and the need for Marco Asensio
Marco Asensio is a versatile attacking midfielder who will add elite technical ability and experience to the Aston Villa midfielder.
He has featured in a multitude of positions across his career at both Real Madrid and PSG playing on the right cutting in on his preferred left foot, as a left winger and also behind the striker in attacking midfield.
Asesnio, who has been out of favour since signing for PSG in 2023, will need to achieve match fitness and sharpness as he enters one of the most physical leagues in the world, likely needing a period to adjust to Villa Park.
He will be much needed depth for Unai Emery’s outfit as well, as they have lost Emiliano Buendia to Bundesliga Champions Bayer Leverkusen and Jadon Philogene to Ipswich Town this window.
Will this revive Asensio’s career
With Asensio being out of favour at his parent club this loan deal represents an opportunity for him to get back to his best on the European stage.
Aston Villa made the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League this season by a single point, they will need vast depth within their squad to contend with the level of games the run-in to the end of the season will bring.
Villa have only managed one victory following a Champions League game this campaign perhaps pointing to fatigue within the lineup.
This gives the Spain international ample opportunity to shine in a rotated lineup, and having won the competition multiple times may give the dressing room some experience in dealing with the latter rounds.
Aston Villa and their busy transfer window
The Premier League’s eighth place club have been relatively active during the January window.
They gained the services of highly rated Dutch winger Donyell Malen from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
21-year-old Spanish full-back Andres Garcia also joined the club in this window, arriving from LaLiga 2 club Levante he has already been named as a starter.
Also, the mammoth loan signing of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford shows intent from Villa to add attacking quality. As they are the lowest scoring club in the Premier League top half.
These additions in the forward line come in the wake of rumours regarding a potential departure of talisman Ollie Watkins. Alongside the transfer of Jhon Duran to Al Nassr who has already scored 12 goals in all competitions during this campaign.
Perhaps, in the pursuit of attacking talent they have neglected a problem area in the defence. Injuries to Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres alongside the sale of Diego Carlos to Fenerbache and the loan deal that saw Kosta Nedeljkovic to RB Leipzig have left the club light in that area.