Aston Villa’s summer planning has brought the right-back position sharply into focus, with The Athletic reporting that the club have held exploratory talks with West Ham United over Aaron Wan-Bissaka. It is a move that makes immediate sense on several levels, especially for a squad looking to sharpen competition and depth ahead of a demanding campaign.
Wan-Bissaka is described as being “among Villa’s list of targets for the right-back position”, a role that has been “identified as a key position to address” as Villa look to push Matty Cash harder for a starting place. That alone says plenty about the club’s thinking. This is not a passing enquiry, it is part of a broader attempt to strengthen an area viewed internally as important.
The 28-year-old brings Premier League experience, physical reliability and defensive quality. West Ham are said to be open to a sale and, according to the report, they value him at “£25million ($33.5m)”. Given the current market, that feels like a fee Villa would seriously weigh up if they believe he can offer instant value.
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Villa right-back search gathers pace
The wider context matters here. “A move for Emerson Royal, the Flamengo right-back formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, did not materialise”, while Kosta Nedeljkovic is attracting interest from Rangers and others. Seen together, those details suggest Villa are actively reshaping their options on the right side rather than simply making opportunistic calls.
Wan-Bissaka’s recent record is mixed in team terms but still relevant individually. He “made 25 league appearances for West Ham last campaign as they suffered relegation to the Championship” and “started all four of DR Congo’s matches at this summer’s World Cup”. That international workload, including the “1-1 draw with Portugal”, points to a player still trusted on a big stage.
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Aaron Wan-Bissaka profile suits Villa needs
There is also the question of pedigree….
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