Thomas Kristensen has revealed what his transfer plans could look like this summer amid interest from Aston Villa.
Kristensen confirms “suggestions” among Aston Villa's interest
With PSR concerns awaiting them again this summer, Aston Villa's game against Nottingham Forest on Thursday is simply a must win. Winning the Europa League remains one of two routes to the Champions League for those in the Midlands, and recent form suggests it may be the best route.
Qualifying for the Champions League would do wonders for their ability to attract top-quality players, not to mention the financial boost it would give them. And that's why Kristensen could be one to watch.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, via Sports Witness, Aston Villa are interested in signing Kristensen this summer and the defender has made it clear that his long-term future is not at Udinese.
He told Campo, according to Sport Witness reports: “Yes, I can confirm that [Udinese wants to extend]. This is not the first time this has happened. They came after a year and a half already.
“The current situation is that when I arrived, we had a plan that I would play for a while so that I could jump in there again.
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“When that will happen, we will have to see. But yes, there has been talk of a contract extension and some proposals there, yes. In the short term, there is a good chance that the next step will be to a big club, maybe playing in Europe. I will not rule that out.”
Kristensen is ready for a big move
Kristensen's confidence suggests he's ready for a big move and his talent only backs that up. The Dane has played his part in another strong, if unspectacular, campaign at Udinese and could be richly rewarded for it.
|
League statistics 25/26 |
Thomas Kristensen |
Ezri Konsa |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
2,336 |
2,856 |
|
Fighting |
26 |
21 |
|
Recovery |
74 |
100 |
|
Duel success |
55.6% |
65.9% |
|
Pass accuracy |
85.8% |
95.3% |
The 24-year-old has not been at the level of Ezri Konsa this season and that is a real credit to him. Out of possession, he stands out in particular and makes Udinese's £25m (£22m) asking price look like a fortune.
And it's a price that wouldn't raise any red flags on Aston Villa's PSR woes and could send Kristensen's name flying up their first-time signings list.
Whether those in the Midlands push through and turn their interest into an offer remains to be seen, however. Unai Emery certainly wouldn't say no to more depth, especially at the right price.
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