HomeTeams - PLAston VillaLiverpool should not miss out on Jordan Amavi the second time

Liverpool should not miss out on Jordan Amavi the second time

French youth international Jordan Amavi’s agent is currently negotiating with Aston Villa about the player’s future at the club, according to the reliable Get French Football News . It is almost clear that the youngster wants to leave the relegated club at the end of the season which will come as a massive blow to the side, but given their horrific season, the club hierarchy as well as the fans will be prepared for such news.

amavi

Amavi joined the Midlanders from French side Nice and signed a five-year contract last summer for a reported sum of £10 million. For the Claret and Blues, this was a massively impressive signing. They signed a player with a big future given Amavi’s rise had been very rapid. A string of injuries and a reported fall out with manager for Timothee Jolodziejczak meant that the young Frenchman got a chance to impress the club. He did exactly that as he went on to appear 19 times for the club in the 2013/14 season after which he signed his progressional contract with Nice. After “Kolo” left the club for Sevilla in the summer of 2014, the French side knew they didn’t need to invest in a new left-back with Amavi being there to grab the first team spot.

They weren’t wrong in assuming so as Amavi had a scintillating 2014/15 season for Nice. The player started 36 league games and averaged 3.9 successful tacklers every 90 minutes and 4.6 interceptions every 90 minutes which simply illustrated his brilliant reading of the game. He was voted as the best U-21 player by Whoscored.com for the 2014-15 season (he was also the second highest rated player in Ligue 1, next only to Zlatan Ibrahimovic).

Tim Sherwood, the then Aston Villa manager realised he needed a new left-back and his club’s Ligue 1 raid included Amavi. The player got off to a brilliant start at the club and in 10 league appearances (and 836 minutes of Premier League football) he averaged 3.6 successful tackles and 3.7 interceptions every 90 minutes. He also had two assists to his name as well.

The left-back didn’t take time to adjust to a new country, league and club and it was evident that his game was effortless with maturity and cool-headedness beyond his years. He doesn’t make too many fouls, showing he isn’t too reckless on the pitch. He is lethal going forward as you would expect from a full-back. He doesn’t forget his primary defending duties as well. He is comfortable cutting inside and carrying the ball forward. This coupled with his dribbling skills, makes him a major offensive threat.

Sadly, his season was cut short as he suffered from a cruciate knee ligament injury during a European Under-21 qualifier against Northern Ireland. He suffered the blow just two weeks after Remi Garde replaced Sherwood at helm and could not help the Villains in their quest to battle relegation. Its not wise to make assumptions but Amavi could have proved to be a difference for Garde, with the sacked manager’s expertise of Ligue 1, and working with the youth.

According to Aston Villa, Amavi is now making “good progress” with his fitness, but whether he would want to stay on with the club and play in the Championship remains up for question. Recent reports of his agent telling  the club to entertain offers obviously don’t come as welcome news for the fans.

Jurgen Klopp will be making a number of additions in the summer and the full-back position is one he mustn’t ignore. Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno’s games oscillate from John Arne Riise lethalness to Jose Enrique’s obtuseness. Klopp must get another left-back as Brad Smith isn’t the ideal cover for a side competing for top 4. Jon Flanagan and Joe Gomez can also play that position but Klopp wouldn’t want to rely on players playing out of position, unless there is a suspension or injury issue.

Jordan Amavi would be an ideal fit for the side. He betters Moreno in every department on the pitch and wouldn’t cost too much as well. Amavi is a player Liverpool should have gone for last season and for Ligue 1 watchers, it came as a surprise that Villa were able to land the 22-year-old without major fuss. The Reds now have the opportunity to make amends and mustn’t miss out on him the second time.

The only question that comes in is whether he would be able to recuperate quickly after a long term injury. It’s more likely that the 22-year-old will manage to do that and the Aston Villa club medics have been impressed with how far he has come. Black has said that he has done well so far, and with rehab and a full pre-season, he will be ready for the 2016/17 campaign. On the  off chance that he doesn’t regain his old form, his likely low cost will definitely not hurt the club too significantly and they will have Smith, Gomez, Flanagan and even Nathaniel Clyne to fall back on.

Aakriti Mehrotra
Aakriti Mehrotra
22; History graduate; English Premier League enthusiast with interest in Ligue 1 and the Croatian National Team.
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