Aston Villa have been keeping tabs on a Belgium youngster who is part of the World Cup finals squad in North America.
Aston Villa seem to have added another name to their shortlist as a potential target this summer. Despite the fact that he only made a cameo appearance in the clash against Egypt in De Rode Duivels’ World Cup opener, The Lions have been scouting him for a while. The aforementioned player is Lille man Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
According to Sky Sports France, Villa’s scouts have been monitoring him in North America at the moment and have been impressed by his skills.
“Aston Villa scouts particularly appreciate his top speed and his ability to make a difference as a centre-forward.”
Such qualities appear to suit the profile Unai Emery is looking for to bolster the squad, especially the attacking line. The Spaniard has been keen on adding pacey and versatile wingers.
Fernandez-Pardo is one of the talented wingers in Ligue 1. He is capable of playing on both flanks and as an attacking midfielder, plus as a frontman, making him a perfect fit as Morgan Rogers’ replacement should the 23-year-old midfielder be sold this summer.
During his spell in France, the 21-year-old winger has made 71 appearances, registering 12 goals and 11 assists so far. Last season, he helped his team finish third and reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Based on the data from FotMob, his xG is 8.82 and his xA is 4.70, with his successful pass percentage reaching 81.8%, whereas his accurate long-ball percentage is 85%. The Brussels-born winger also has a respectable successful dribble rate of 41.3% and a duel-winning percentage of 41.8%.
The former Gent man’s defensive contribution is quite impressive too. Last season, he made 20 tackles, seven interceptions, and three clearances in the French top flight.
He joined the French outfit in 2024 from Gent. Lille is not a new place for him, as he joined the club’s academy in 2014 and stayed for six years before returning to his homeland.
Fernandez-Pardo is tied to a contract that expires in 2029. Based on the report, Villa have yet to put an offer on the table. They are still waiting to assess his form at the World Cup, as it could play an important role in The Lions’ final decision on whether to pursue him this summer or not.
Emery’s men are definitely not the only team eyeing a move for him. Newcastle United and Liverpool are also said to be interested in signing him. His price tag could reach £60 million, which is quite high for a young player without experience at the highest level yet. It will be interesting to see if Villa are really willing to match his asking price.
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