Aston Villa to complete move for Barcelona starlet

It’s been a summer full of interesting and exciting signings for Tim Sherwood and Aston Villa, but the club may be on the verge of making its biggest one yet.

Reports from AS in Spain and the Birmingham Mail indicate the Claret and Blues are set to sign Barcelona youngster Adama Traoré to a three-year deal, beating out Stoke City and perhaps Liverpool to his signature. While Xherdan Shaqiri’s imminent move to Stoke likely played a role in the 19-year old, who simply goes by Adama, signing in Birmingham, it’s still a coup for the club to pull off the signing of a budding young talent.

Barcelona B’s relegation from La Segunda this year opened up the opportunity for Traoré to leave, and reading this scouting report from ESPN FC, it’s easy to see why Sherwood has sprung for the Spanish-born wide forward as part of his revolution. Obviously, like most 19-year olds, we shouldn’t expect him to be a star from the get-go, but he’s got a lot of upside.

My favourite part there has to be the one about his defensive responsibilities, and rarely leaving his fullback exposed. With Leandro Bacuna the likely answer at right back — Rudy Gestede needs his service — this could be the most important part of any right winger’s role at Villa Park.

Most have speculated Barça would require a buy-back clause to be part of the deal and, quite honestly, that’s perfectly fine on my end. Villa aren’t a destination club right now, and in the short-term future, that isn’t going to change. If there’s such a clause included in this deal, it means Villa should make a nice profit on the player if he is to develop as some might like him to.

Others have insinuated the Claret and Blues may be paying more than the player’s €6 million (£4.2 million) release clause, which could indicate the club is keen to remove such a clause from the deal.

Regardless, Villa look set to sign him to a three-year deal, with an option for a fourth year. In theory, that protects the club from him walking for nothing at the end of his deal, with Adama set to be 22 at the expiration of the contract. While a tribunal never fetches a fair fee, it would ensure Villa get something for the winger if they can’t move or sign him.

And while Villa look set in attack right now, getting another signing in hedges the club’s bets a little more, and signs a proper right-sided playmaker to the side. Bacuna got a chance there in preseason and didn’t really impress, so Sherwood’s movement for Adama fills a need.

It’s clearly looking to be a big signing for the club, and one that further reinforces Sherwood’s intent to develop young talent at B6.