The 19-year-old West Brom prospect might thrive under Emery…
Aston Villa are apparently interested in West Bromwich Albion teenager Rico Richards, as Unai Emery looks to poach a developing talent from his opponents.
It’s going to be a hectic summer at Villa Park, as both Emery and Monchi attempt to take the team to the next level after last season’s success.
As Emery indicated to The Athletic in April, the Spanish duo would be seeking to add depth to the squad in all areas, which they may achieve by bringing in West Brom’s Richards.
What’s the latest on Rico Richards’ potential move to Aston Villa?
According to Football Insider, Villa are in ‘advanced talks’ to capture the 19-year-old prospect, who will leave West Brom this summer when his contract expires.
According to the source, talks are ‘well underway’ and doing smoothly, with Villa ‘confident’ of reaching a comprehensive deal with the player.
Rico Richards, who are you?
Analyst Tom Williams has described the adolescent as a “technician” who has starred for the Baggies’ academy sides and made his Championship debut earlier this year, playing ten minutes against Hull City.
The 19-year-old is primarily used as an attacking midfielder, but he is also capable of playing on either flank or centrally behind the striker.
Last season, the 6 foot Englishman scored four goals and assisted five others in 19 Premier League 2 Division 2 outings, an excellent performance in the final third for the talented youth.
The youngster, described by Williams as a player who “loves dribbling,” could offer a lot to Emery’s side, and would follow in the footsteps of academy stars who have made the cut to the first team, such as Jack Grealish and a certain Jacob Ramsey, who transitioned into being a regular starter.
Ramsey, who can play centrally and on the flanks like Richards, originally filtered out Bertrand Traore with his excellent performances over the past several seasons, a process that Richards could follow as he attempts to unseat Emiliano Buendia.
Signed from Norwich City in the summer of 2021, the Argentine playmaker scored 32 goals and assisted 32 times in his final Championship season with the Canaries, but has yet to live up to his true potential in the Midlands.
The 26-year-old has only had 18 goal involvements throughout his Villa career, which has lasted 78 matches, demonstrating his struggle for form in the Premier League.
With the “splendid” Richards – as Joe Chapman has described him – potentially arriving at Villa Park, the kid might target Buendia’s starting berth, just as Ramsey wonderful when claiming the right flank as his quarters.
According to The Athletic’s Steve Madeley, the adolescent has been praised by unnamed instructors who have worked with him as having a ‘eye for a goal-creating pass’ at a level “rarely seen in players his age.”
Emery could unearth a revelation in Richards, a player who could grace his side for years to come and follow the success of youths who have thrived before him at Villa Park, with his poise on the ball and in the final third.
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