Dion Sanderson of Wolverhampton Wanderers runs with the ball past Nathan Tella of Southampton during the Premier League 2 match between Wolverhampton Wanderers U23 and Southampton U23 at Molineux. (Getty Images)
According to the Daily Mail, Aston Villa are among a host of clubs to have scouted Wolves’ young defender Dion Sanderson.
Having joined Cardiff City on loan from Wolves in January, Dion Sanderson, 20, has been impressive in just the three games he’s played for the Championship club. The versatile defender made his Cardiff City debut against Nottingham Forest and even though his side lost 1-0, he performed very well to contain tricky attackers such as Joe Lolley and Sammy Ameobi.
Sanderson’s performances have not gone unnoticed, with the likes of West Ham, Brighton and Norwich City monitoring his progress ahead of the summer transfer window, the report adds.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have not enjoyed their return to the English top-flight as they find themselves rooted to 19th place in the table. Dean Smith has 10 games in his hands to save Villa from relegation. Whatever is Villa’s status at the end of the season, Smith will need to recruit well during the summer.
The Villans did sign more than a dozen players in the last two transfer windows but only a handful of them have managed to make a telling impact. Truly, the Midlands club needs players who will be able to make a difference immediately, while also being a valuable long-term asset. Having said that, should they sign Dion Sanderson from Wolves?
Sanderson is currently on loan at Cardiff City, having made just one senior appearance for Wolves. He has made a huge impact in just three matches since arriving at the Cardiff City Stadium. The youngster is a centre-back by trade but he has played at right-back under Neil Harris. That gives a glimpse of his versatility and why he could be a handy addition to Smith’s side.
It says a lot that so many clubs want Sanderson. He’s played just a handful of games in the Championship and the kind of attention he’s received from top-flight English clubs tells one about his potential.
If Villa manages to sign the 20-year-old, he could compete with centre-backs such as Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Kortney Hause and Bjorn Engels, whilst adding depth to the right-back area. Sanderson may lack experience at the highest level but he could be a valuable addition for Villa, considering his versatility to play at both centre-back and right-back.
The 20-year-old Englishman has the talent to develop into a quality player in the future and Aston Villa must do everything possible to win the race for his signature this summer.
