Nakamba linked with Valencia
ASTON VILLA midfielder Marvelous Nakamba is being linked with a move to Spanish top-flight side, Valencia.
Reports in Spain are that the La Liga side will turn their attention to the Zimbabwe international if they fail to sign Lucas Torreira. Torreira is on loan at the La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid from Arsenal.
Valencia are said to be desperate to recruit this January after a poor first half of the campaign.
They sit 14th on the standings, two points above the relegation zone.
And it is being reported that coach Javi Gracia has shortlisted Nakamba and Edson Alvarez of Ajax as alternatives should the pursuit of Torreira flops.
According to El Mercantil Valenciano, a media outlet in Spain, Valencia are still pursuing Torreira despite being turned down on numerous occasions.
The publication listed Nakamba as part of the alternatives, though they reported it as complicated.
“. . . Javi Gracia has already said twice in public that he hopes the team will be strengthened as planned.
“At the moment it seems complicated that this footballer (alternative to Torreira) could be the Mexican Edson Álvarez, from Ajax Amsterdam and (also) the name of Marvelous Nakamba appears, a player born in Zimbabwe who plays for Aston Villa,” reported El Mercantil Valenciano.
Nakamba, who impressed for Aston Villa as they beat Newcastle United at the weekend, has dominated transfer news of late.
The Warriors midfielder has struggled for game time at Villa Park and his appearance at the weekend was only because of John McGinn’s suspension.
He, however, rose to the occasion and reminded coach Dean Smith that he still has a lot to offer.
Smith himself singled out the Zimbabwean in his post-match interview describing the 27-year-old’s performance as excellent.
While the arrival, at Villa Park, of French midfielder Morgan Sanson might be viewed as more threat to Nakamba, he is more of a direct replacement to Conor Hourihane who went out on loan to Swansea City.
Local football critics have, however, been advising Nakamba to remain at Villa Park since he has been making match day teams, though on the bench.
Nakamba made 19 Premier League appearances for Villa last term but has been relegated to the bench in the 2020-2021 season.
The former Club Brugge midfielder made two league appearances this season out of five outings.
He was, before, linked with Turkish Super Liga club Trabzonspor in April last year but vowed to remain at Villa.
Nakamba has also turned out for Dutch top tier side Vitesse Arnhem.
The English January transfer market closes at 11pm on Monday.