da premier bet： This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
da fazobetai： Aston Villa have found life tough in the Premier League so far this campaign, recording just one win from their seven matches.
One of the most significant issues facing manager Dean Smith has been goalscoring as his side have netted just eight goals, which ranks them as the fifth-worst in the division.
Summer arrival Wesley Moraes hasn’t yet lived up to his club-record £22m fee as he’s scored just two of those eight goals, with John McGinn bagging one more from midfield, which makes him their top scorer for the season.
As a result of their fortunes to date, it is believed the club are making £20m available for another striker in the January transfer window.
This week, Villa were linked with a move for Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos, which would suggest that those earlier reports had some sort of substance. Per Transfermarkt, he’s rated at £6.75m.
The potential signing has caused a bit of a stir amongst some members of the Villa faithful, with many labelling him a ‘loose cannon’ and a ‘liability.’
But are they right?
It’s quite clear to see that he would arrive with some baggage as he has picked up five red cards throughout his Ibrox career.
The most recent of which came in the Old Firm derby back in March when the striker received his marching orders after just half an hour.
However, this season, there clearly has been a mark of improvement on his temperament as he’s yet to be sent off and has picked up just the three bookings.
The 23-year-old’s goalscoring exploits have been nothing short of outstanding since joining Rangers in 2017 from Finnish giants HJK.
In his first season, he managed to net 14 goals while providing seven assists, which only improved the next year in five fewer appearances.
Morelos bagged 18 goals and provided eight assists in just 30 league appearances – that’s quite a return.
He’s continued that rich vein of form in front of goal into this campaign having already scored five goals.
The Colombian wouldn’t need as much time to adapt as Wesley considering Scottish conditions which makes this an instant positive. The quality differs but the environment is largely the same.
There have been numerous players that have been a success having come from the Scottish Premiership too, most notably McGinn, who is becoming a star at Villa. If Morelos could replicate what he’s achieved at Villa Park, he’d be an instant hit.
Gary Hooper and the two Steven’s, Naismith and Fletcher, have forged decent careers in England at some point.
Naismith played over 100 times for Everton while Fletcher managed 53 goals in 189 appearances in the top-flight – Hooper, who is without a club, has scored 61 times in 166 Championship matches.
That’s not to mention how Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson have impacted Liverpool in recent times, albeit in a different position.
Those players prove the quality is there to be had in the Scottish Premiership and Morelos is a player with definite potential.