Aston Villa: Bruce missed out on £8.6m dynamo who’s as “clinical” as Watkins
Aston Villa have been linked with an abundance of talent over the years, with one name now scoring frequently abroad…
Aston Villa are relishing life under Unai Emery, as the Midlands side continue to climb the table and enjoy the new peaks to their success.
The Spaniard arrived when the Villans were sat in 16th place under Steven Gerrard, and inspired his inherited squad to finish in a European spot and claim 7th place after a heroic run of form in 2023.
Back in August, only Pep Guardiola had won more Premier League points than Emery in 2023, highlighting just how much of an influence his guidance has had on the same team that were struggling for points not even a year ago.
The four-time Europa League winner installed a new breath of fresh air to Villa Park, with times being tough in spells prior to his landing in Birmingham.
One area that the former Arsenal and PSG boss has bolstered is the pull that Villa have in the transfer window, highlighted as they welcomed five new faces of high calibre to the squad this summer.
The Villans haven’t always found such ease in landing their targets, with plenty of talent linked over the years going on the find sanctuary elsewhere and show those in the Midlands what they’re missing.
Rewind back to 2018, and Steve Bruce had taken charge of Villa’s push for promotion in the 2017/18 Championship season, missing out in the play off final to Fulham to see them remain in the second-tier for a third consecutive campaign.
The club’s transfer prospects were integral to them fighting for promotion once more after the summer of 2018, with one name listed as a potential capture that is currently outperforming Emery’s heroes today.
Did Aston Villa nearly sign Niclas Fullkrug?
In May 2018, news in Germany reported Villa’s interest in Hannover striker Niclas Fullkrug, who was in demand in England following his impressive performances in the Bundesliga.
In the 2017/18 campaign prior to the transfer window, Fullkrug netted 14 league goals in a tough term for Die Roten who finished 13th while their striker ranked at 3rd in the Bundesliga’s scoring charts.
That season at Villa, Albert Adomah ended the campaign as the side’s top scorer on 14 goals in the second tier, prompting a slight need for change to the front line with Bruce’s midfield men contributing more than their designated strikers.
As reported by BILD, the Villans were joined by Newcastle United, Leicester City, Watford, Cardiff City and Fulham in their admiration of Fullkrug, who could have been the man to ease the pressures on scoring.
