Thomas Christensen has revealed what his transfer plans will be this summer amid growing interest from Aston Villa.
Christensen accepts ‘offer’ as Aston Villa interest grows
Aston Villa’s game against Nottingham Forest on Thursday is a must-win, with PSR concerns still looming this summer. Winning the Europa League is one of two routes to the Champions League for the Midlands, and recent developments suggest it could be the best route.
Qualifying for the Champions League could do wonders for their ability to attract top players, not to mention the financial stimulus it provides. That’s why Christensen might be a player to keep an eye on.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb via Sport Witness, Aston Villa are interested in signing Christensen this summer, and Christensen has made it clear that his long-term future is indeed not at Udinese.
As broadcast by Sports Witness, he told Campo:Yes, I can confirm that (Udinese want an extension). It’s not the first time something like this has happened. They came already a year and a half later.
“The situation is that when I came, the plan was to play for a period of time, and then we could jump back in from there. So it’s clearly in our plans that we need to take further steps.”
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“We will have to see when that will be. But certainly there is talk of a contract extension and some proposals. In the short term, the next step is very likely to be a move to a bigger club, perhaps one that plays in Europe. I wouldn’t rule it out.”
Christensen is ready for a big move
Christensen’s confidence suggests he’s ready to make a big move, and his ability only backs that up. The Dane has played a role in another solid, albeit low-key, campaign at Udinese and could earn the ultimate reward as a result.
League statistics 25/26 | thomas christensen | Ezri Konsa |
|---|---|---|
minutes | 2,336 | 2,856 |
tackle | 26 | twenty one |
collect | 74 | 100 |
Successful duel | 55.6% | 65.9% |
Pass accuracy | 85.8% | 95.3% |
The 24-year-old hasn’t come close to Ezri Konsa’s level this season, and that’s to his credit. He is especially noticeable when in possession, making Udinese’s reported €25 million asking price seem like a bargain.
The price also does not raise any red flags about Aston Villa’s PSR issue and could see Christensen’s name move up on their preferred contract list.
But it remains to be seen whether the Midlanders will actually push through and turn their interest into an offer. Unai Emery won’t say no to adding depth, especially at the right price.
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Aston Villa have work to do this summer after their recent setbacks in the Premier League.
