Al-Nassr forward Abderrazak Hamdallah celebrates after scoring a goal during the AFC Champions League quarter-final match against Qatar's Al-Sadd at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on September 16, 2019. (Getty Images)
According to Mercato (h/t Birmingham Mail), Aston Villa have been linked with a move for 26-goal Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah.
The 29-year-old finisher currently plays for Saudi champions Al-Nassr, whom he helped win the league title after signing for them last year. Hamdallah’s goal-scoring exploits last season saw him emerge as the top goalscorer in the league last season with a massive 34 league goals to his name.
Dubbed as the ‘Arabian Suarez’, Hamdallah has continued his good form from last year, scoring 18 goals from 19 league matches for Al-Nassr this season. So far, the Moroccan hotshot has scored a total of 26 goals across all competitions this season.
Having scored a whopping 75 goals from 60 matches already for the defending Saudi champions, it is no big wonder that the in-form forward has been valued at around €18million.
However, there persists a small problem as Hamdallah hasn’t played in 75% of games for his native Morocco during the last three years. This means the striker would fail to get a work permit to play in the Premier League.
Premier League strugglers Villa are in need of a consistent goal-scorer, having managed just 34 goals from their 28 league outings. The lack of a reliable striker has hurt the Villans badly, with the side fighting to stay in top-flight after earning promotion from the Championship just last season.
In fact, Villa had brought in Brazilian striker Wesley into the side to enhance their chances up front. But the 23-year-old has been far from impressive, managing just 5 league goals from 21 appearances.
To add to Villa’s miseries, Wesley suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in January that ruled him out for the rest of the season. In response, Villa soon roped in Mbwana Samatta in the winter transfer window from Belgian side Genk.
However, he too is yet to make an impact, having scored just once after featuring four times for them in the league. Villa also have strikers Keinan Davis and Borja Baston in the squad, with the latter expected to depart the club at the end of his contract on June 30.
With the side clearly in need of an established goal-scorer in their ranks, Villa’s interest in Hamdallah looks like a welcome sign. Hence, they should continue their pursuit of the in-form Moroccan and try landing him soon.
Though Villa have four strikers in their midst, they need a player who can deliver the goods for them. The Moroccan has been in sensational form in recent times and could help Villa score goals next season. Given his experience, he can also offer good competition for main man Wesley, if Villa succeed in buying him.
