According to Birmingham Live, Aston Villa had made contact with Werder Bremen over the transfer of Milot Rashica last summer. Werder Bremen’s head of professional football and scouting confirmed the same in the report. He was linked to the club back in January this year too.
Milot Rashica started his professional career with Vushtrria in Kosovo before rising to prominence at Vitesse Arnhem in the Dutch Eredivisie. The 24-year-old spent two-and-a-half seasons in the Netherlands, accumulating an impressive 15 goals and 24 assists in 100 appearances across all competitions for Vitesse.
The right-footed winger was snapped up by Werder Bremen back in January 2018 and Rashica has since established himself as a key player for the struggling Bundesliga outfit. The Kosovo international played a key role as Florian Kohfeldt’s side somehow managed to beat the drop via the relegation playoffs last season.
Rashica has registered some impressive numbers despite not playing for one of the top teams in the Bundesliga. The versatile forward has bagged 24 goals and 14 assists in 75 appearances for Bremen in all competitions (source – Transfermarkt). His exploits put several clubs across the continent on red alert.
Playing for Albania in the youth levels, Rashica decided to represent Kosovo at the senior level. He has 25 appearances and 4 goals for them to date.
Villa are on a roll this year with 5 wins in their opening 6 league games. They look defensively solid and have found a new attacking edge in their game. The Liverpool game was a good example of how good their attack can perform.
Their new signings are showing promise, as the likes of Ollie Watkins and Ross Barkley have begun well. While they look well settled and improving by the day, they shouldn’t stop at that. Adding a player like Milot Rashica would be a good way to continue on that upward trajectory.
Primarily a right-winger, he can play in a variety of forward positions such as left-wing and as a second striker. He has performed well in those positions too. A pacy winger with tricks and an eye for goal, he is also very creative in the final third to bring his teammates into play.
Aston Villa should attempt to sign Rashica in January when the transfer window reopens as they cannot let a player like him slip through their grasp.