‘Do not bet against Emery with Onana’

In Amadou Onana, Aston Villa are closing in on the signing of a 22-year-old holding midfielder with two seasons of Premier League experience and a queue of Europe’s top clubs previously waiting to sign him.

So are they getting a £50m bargain? Not according to the Everton fans we asked (see 13:44 post), who seem pleased to pocket the cash.

What is the reality?

Onana made 63 Premier League appearances for the Toffees, scoring three goals and supplying two assists, while only two Everton players made more tackles than him last season.

Generally deployed in front of the back four, he was a cog in Sean Dyche’s physical machine, winning the ball back before playing it to more creative influences such as James Garner or Dwight McNeil.

Similarly, at this summer’s Euro 2024 finals, Belgium played Onana in a deep-lying role with the remit of breaking down attacks and letting Kevin de Bruyne and co get on with it moving forward.

Not that anyone shone in Dominic Tedesco’s ragged system – albeit the manager entrusted Onana with sole responsibility in central midfield against France in their last-16 game.

Yet the simple truth is Everton’s revival at the end of the season came without him really being on the pitch, starting only one of the four wins in five that kept them in the Premier League.

And the Blues’ record without him starting was six wins in 14 (43%) as opposed to seven from 24 with him in the first choice XI.

At Villa, can he replace Douglas Luiz‘s excellent 2023-24 season of nine goals and five assists? Unlikely – and he will not be their first-choice penalty taker any time soon.

At the same time, history suggests it is unwise to bet against Unai Emery from taking a player with such clear raw attributes and moulding him to his tactical plan.

Do not be surprised if Onana turns out to be one of the most effective midfielders in the Premier League, this season and beyond.

That would make £50m a bargain.