Aston Villa stalwart in danger of being cut loose as Emery sets sights on dependable La Liga star
Aston Villa have reportedly registered an interest in Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, as Unai Emery is a fan of the La Liga man.
Bounou (known as Bono) has been Sevilla’s starting goalkeeper for the past three seasons. The Morocco international first joined on loan in 2019, before signing permanently the following year.
Clearly, he made an impact, as he started pretty much every game he was available for in his first term after the signing.
Bono kept 15 league clean sheets, as Sevilla finished fourth in La Liga. They followed that up with another fourth-placed finish, with the 31-year-old again playing most games.
He had another top season, keeping 13 league clean sheets. What’s more, in the games that he played, Sevilla conceded just 24 times.
Amid his extended period of top form, Bono was the subject of some interest. Manchester United were reportedly keen last season, seeing the Moroccan as a potential replacement for David de Gea.
This season, things have not gone as well for the La Liga side, and by extension, for Bono.
Indeed, they have already conceded 22 goals – two less than the goalkeeper conceded in 31 games last season – and are in the relegation places.
Aston Villa plotting surprise Bono move
While at club level, things have dropped off, Bono’s form over the past couple of seasons shows his quality. The World Cup offers an opportunity for him to further stake his claim as a top keeper.
Indeed, he kept a clean sheet in Morocco’s opener against Croatia. That, along with his long period of form at club level, could be the reason for current interest in him.
Football Insider reports that Aston Villa are keeping tabs on the goalkeeper.
They suggest that manager Emery is a massive fan of the Morocco man. Of course, he would have come up against him over the past few seasons in La Liga, while he was managing Villarreal.
Bono interest a surprise
While Bono has been a quality keeper for some time, Villa’s interest is surprising. Of the players that plied their trade for the Villans over the past few seasons, Emi Martinez has been one of the most consistent.
The Argentinian kept 26 clean sheets over the course of his first couple of seasons at Villa Park.
He is also clearly one of the world’s best keepers, given that he starts for Argentina – for whom he has made 20 appearances since his debut in 2021.
As such, pitting another goalkeeper against him at Villa would make little sense, no matter how good he is.
Given Martinez is under contract at the club until 2027, it would appear that Villa have faith in him. Whether or not that is no longer the case under Emery remains to be seen.
While it would be surprising if he were to be shipped out for another goalkeeper, it will be interesting to see if Villa do approach Sevilla, as that could spell trouble for the Argentinian.
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