Aston Villa are reportedly set to challenge Barcelona for soon-to-be free Borussia Monchengladbach attacker Marcus Thuram.
According to a report by SPORT, as relayed by Sport Witness, Premier League side Aston Villa are ready to challenge Barcelona for French international Marcus Thuram in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old’s contract at Borussia Monchengladbach will expire at the end of the season, effectively making him a free agent. A versatile attacker who is capable of playing anywhere along the frontline, Thuram impressed in cameo roles for France at the World Cup in Qatar.
He came off the bench in the World Cup final and assisted Kylian Mbappe’s regular-time equaliser for Les Bleus. Unfortunately, it was not enough as Argentina came out on top in the shootout.
Thuram has not let the heartbreak get to him and is a key player for Gladbach this season. His winner at the weekend in a Bundesliga game against Bayern Munich was his 14th strike of the season in 22 games across all competitions. He also has four assists to his name.
The Frenchman is set to leave Borussia Park as a free agent in the summer and there appears to be no shortage of suitors. Aston Villa have found new wind under Unai Emery and have now joined the race for the 25-year-old.
Emery is known for setting up defensively solid sides that thrive on the counter. Capable of holding the ball up and running into space, Thuram would certainly find a new lease of life at Villa Park. Having sold Danny Ings in January, Ollie Watkins is the club’s lone reliable striker.
Bringing in Thuram would be a coup of sorts for a side that has invested heavily in recent years. Landing him on a free gives Aston Villa not just a world-class player on a bargain but also lets them use the money earmarked for a striker elsewhere.
However, a move to the Midlands is arguably a step down for the French international. Barcelona will not just give him the opportunity to challenge for titles but also play regularly in the UEFA Champions League, something Villa can only dream of at this moment.
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Also moving to Camp Nou will see him don the jersey that his father, French legend Lilian Thuram wore from 2006-2008. Whether that is something that will factor into Marcus’s decision remains to be seen. While the Frenchman can have his pick of clubs, including Barcelona, in the summer, Villa could land themselves the deal of the window should they convince him to move to the Premier League.
