An update has emerged regarding Aston Villa's plans to add to their wide attacking options during the January transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Villans are interested in signing Udinese winger Gerard Deulofeu before the market slams shut next Tuesday.

The report claims that Unai Emery 'would love' to have a reunion with the player, who he previously managed at Sevilla, and wants to bring the 28-year-old to Villa Park in the coming days.

It is stated that the forward is also interested in returning to England, where he played with Watford and Everton in the past, but Villa are yet to make an official offer to secure his services.

Anwar El Ghazi replacement

No fewer than 11 teams have scored more goals than Villa in the Premier League this season, and adding another player with the potential to find the back of the net on a regular basis could increase the team's output at the top end of the pitch.

No winger has hit double figures for top-flight goals for the club in one season since Anwar El Ghazi struck ten times in the 2020/21 campaign, whilst Ollie Watkins is the only other player - in any position - to score ten or more goals a season for Villa over the last three campaigns.

These statistics indicate that Emery is lacking a winger with a penchant for scoring goals, and the 51-year-old could finally land a true replacement for El Ghazi at Villa Park by signing Deulofeu in the coming days.

Like the Dutchman, who netted 26 goals for the club in total, the Udinese forward has showcased his ability to be a potent goalscorer from out wide in Italy and in England.

The 28-year-old, who was once hailed as "unstoppable" by reporter Anthony Lopopolo, smashed in 13 goals in 31 starts in Serie A last season and scored ten times in 26 starts for Watford in the 2018/19 Premier League.

Deulofeu has also shown that he can be a creator from out wide, having racked up 11 Serie A assists since the start of last term, whilst creating 2.4 chances per match in 2021/22.

These statistics indicate that the Spanish winger could be an excellent signing for Villa if Emery can get him fit and firing in the Premier League, as the dynamo has proven - in both Italy and England - that he can hit double digits for goals and create chances for his team-mates when at his best.

Therefore, the Villans could finally replace El Ghazi and have a winger with the capability to score goals on a regular basis from out wide by signing Deulofeu this month.