- Ibrahima Mbaye could become Aston Villa's long-term answer on the wing after Morgan Rogers' departure, with Villa agreeing a €55m deal for the PSG talent.
Aston Villa have agreed to a €55m deal for Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahima Mbaye, according to David Ornstein, as Unai Emery continues to rebuild an attack that has lost Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins.
Why Villa made Mbaye a priority
Villa has been tracking the French winger since January, but the financial demands of the French club and interests from other clubs, including Liverpool, in the player became a major roadblock in the deal, but as Liverpool moved away from the deal due to disagreement with Paris Saint-Germain, Villa entered the race and closed the deal for the highly rated 18-year-old.
The arrival of Mbaye is vital for the Birmingham club following the departure of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea; Rogers made 16 goal contributions in the Premier League last season, and the majority of his impact was coming from the right side of the pitch.
Mbaye is not necessarily a like-for-like replacement for Rogers, but Villa sees his pace, 1v1 ability, and versatility as qualities that can help rebuild the attacking threat lost with the England international's departure.
What Mbaye can bring to Emery's attack
He is an unpredictable presence on the wing who could play as a touchline winger as well as cut inside to beat the defenders. Pace and direct approach in his game made him an attractive option for several clubs in Europe, and his time under Luis Enrique helped him to improve himself as a winger in a star-studded team by getting opportunities in both Champions League and Ligue 1 games.
The areas Mbaye still needs to improve
Mbaye excels in 1v1 situations and quick transitions with his pace and acceleration; however, he is still considered a raw talent, and his decision-making in the final third has to be improved under pressure to grow into a world-class player who could shine for Villa.
Villa's long-term plan for the winger
Villa considers his arrival a long-term solution to strengthen the attack following the departure of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea and Ollie Watkins to Al Hilal.