BREMEN, GERMANY - JULY 02: Milot Rashica of Bremen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga playoff first leg match between Werder Bremen and 1. FC Heidenheim at Wohninvest Weserstadion on July 02, 2020 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
According to Birmingham Live, Aston Villa target Milot Rashica could be available again in January. Werder Bremen are looking to raise funds from sales as they have been hit hard by the whole pandemic situation.
Rashica, who was quoted at a price of £20.5m, was in talks over a potential transfer to Villa late last summer. However, the broke down last summer due to the abrupt closure of the German transfer window. (h/t Birmingham Live)
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. (h/t Transfermarkt)
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 77 appearances for Bremen in all competitions. (h/t Transfermarkt)
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.
Aston Villa have had a mixed but mostly encouraging start to the season. They have thrashed champions Liverpool by a scarcely believable scoreline, tore apart Arsenal and even managed to nick a win against Leicester City.
New signings Ollie Watkins and Ross Barkley have started like a house on fire. Jack Grealish has continued on his merry form from last season. With 5 wins from 7 games, Villa looked the real deal this season.
However, as they say in life, you cannot get complacent. Villa should try to amp up their team even more and the signing of Milot Rashica would go a long way in doing that.
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. Adding him would further bolster the quality and the potency of their attack, which would only help them sustain their form over the course of the entire season.