Kieran Trippier (Getty Images)
According to The Telegraph, Aston Villa are keen on signing Atletico Madrid star Kieran Trippier in a bid to bolster their defence ahead of the new campaign.
The report suggests that Trippier, who has just two more years left on his contract with the Spanish outfit, has come under the radar of Villa boss Dean Smith. Villa are looking to sign him either on loan or on a permanent deal this summer.
Born in England, Trippier started his career with Blackburn Rovers before rising through the youth ranks of Manchester City. However, he couldn’t break into the club’s senior set-up and spent time on loan with Barnsley and Burnley before switching to Turf Moor on a permanent basis in the summer of 2012.
He immediately became a key figure of the squad and helped them get promoted to the Premier League and after making 185 appearances for the Clarets, he joined Tottenham in the summer of 2015. He was one of the key players under Mauricio Pochettino in North London as they reached the finals of the Champions League in the 2018/19 season.
The Englishman moved to Spain last summer and despite being troubled by injuries last season, he went on to make 33 appearances and helped Atletico finish third in the league standings. He was also a regular starter for England in the 2018 World Cup.
Smith’s men haven’t been consistent on their return to the top-flight and one of the key reasons for their lacklustre performance was the shaky defence. They conceded 67 goals for the season and if this continues, they could struggle once again in the Premier League. Thus, the manager should bring in reinforcements ahead of the new season.
One key area which needs to be strengthened is the right-back position. Frederic Guilbert and Ahmed Elmohamady are the two defenders available on the right side of the backline but both of them haven’t claimed the spot for themselves. They haven’t been at their best and thus, bringing in Trippier could add competition for the spot.
The 29-year-old has been consistent in the last few years and has gone from strength to strength. He has been excellent at both ends of the pitch. Apart from defending, he is also capable of delivering in terms of attack.
The 29-year-old was the most creative player in the 2018 World Cup, where he created the most chances (24). He is a reliable customer and could also prove to be a difference in their backline.
With Guilbert and Elmohamady still unsettled, it is clear that Villa are in dire need of right-backs. And Trippier, who has been at the top of his game in the last few years, could provide them with some much-needed quality. Thus, signing the Englishman would be a wise decision by the club.
