Aston Villa Eye Milan Skriniar as £21m Defensive Reinforcement

Following their recent Premier League defeat where they conceded three goals, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has identified the need to strengthen his defensive options in the January transfer window. With both Tyrone Mings and Diego Carlos approaching their 32nd birthdays by the end of the season, bringing in a new center-back has become a top priority for the club.

Recent reports suggest that Villa have set their sights on PSG defender Milan Skriniar, who is expected to be made available for transfer next month. The French club has reportedly set an asking price of around £21 million for the Slovak international.

While Villa face competition from several top European clubs for Skriniar’s signature, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Real Madrid, they view him as an ideal upgrade to their current defensive options. The 28-year-old has extensive experience playing at the highest level for Inter Milan and PSG over the past seven seasons.

Skriniar’s potential arrival could see Diego Carlos moved on, as the Brazilian has struggled for consistency this season. In contrast, Skriniar has maintained impressive stats despite limited playing time at PSG, boasting a 97% pass completion rate and winning 61% of his duels in Ligue 1.

With his winning mentality and reputation as one of the world’s top defenders, Skriniar could provide the defensive solidity and leadership Emery is seeking to take Villa to the next level. At a reported fee of £21 million, he may prove to be an excellent value signing if Villa can complete the deal.