Rumour: Aston Villa move in for Mattia Perin

According to rumours breaking out from the Italian sports media, Aston Villa are ready to steal a march in the chase for highly-rated, yet injured, Italian goalkeeper Mattia Perin. Reports state that Perin ‘failed his medical’ at Benfica after agreeing a contract and transfer of €15 million from Juventus.

Now, Villa are rumoured to be in discussions with the Juventus Sporting Director to arrange a permanent transfer - apparently.

Having covered Perin transfer rumours in the past, I am more than aware of his injury history. He’ll be out for the most of the rest of 2019 with a shoulder injury - however, medicals are often ‘failed’ for administrative purposes, or because a club has the wrong idea about the true extent of an injury (see Jordan Amavi in 2017, Arshavin, Falcao - these things happen). Failing a medical doesn’t have to be taken as bad sign - because it’s Benfica’s medical that he failed. If he does agree a move to Aston Villa and he fails that specific medical - then allow the speculation to run rampant. Until that point - it’s all talk. Perin’s injury history should not be ignored though - two cruciate ligament injuries and shoulder surgeries have kept him out of action, although he did manage 37 games in 2017/2018 with 9 more coming this past season at Juventus. These injuries in isolation do not have to hint specifically to an ‘injury problem’ as you only have to look at the awful injuries sustained by Tyrone Mings to realise that ‘injury problems’ can simply be separate bouts of bad luck. It’d remain a concern though.

However, if his fee can be lowered, Perin would represent superb value for Aston Villa. He’d offer solid competition for Jed Steer, and at age 26 offers something for the future. Perin was once considered to be the next big thing in Italian football, until one Gigio Donnarumma turned up at AC Milan. He’s still got the ability, but injuries will remain a concern.

If you can snag that quality - once considered world-class potential - at a price under €15 million, then you probably go for it. and wait until he’s ready to play. It’s a gamble, but clubs in the position of Aston Villa will have to take chances sometimes.