Aston Villa they have been quite weak in defense this season, and have not been able to stop regular goals against them. According to SofascoreThe Villans have conceded 32 goals this season in the top flight, better than just six teams in the entire division. That must have been a problem for Unai Emeryfrom the side.
However, this is very surprising considering that they have a lot of experience in defense. England internationals Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings are two options, although the latter has only recently returned from injury. The likes of Pau Torres and Diego Carlos are other options at Emery’s disposal.
It is perhaps no surprise that the Villans are looking for a new player at centre-back this winter.
Aston Villa are targeting a new defender
This is about the 18-year-old Turkish central defender Yasin Ozcan. Kasimpasa’s number 58 has really impressed since breaking into the first team and is now being linked with a move away from the club.
According to a report by The AthleticVillans are now believed to be ‘close to signing’ the 18-year-old defender, who is due to undergo a medical on Tuesday afternoon before the deal becomes official.
However, he is unlikely to play at Villa Park this season. The report suggests that Ozcan will return to Kasimpasa on loan until the end of the season.
As for the youngster’s price tag, he will reportedly cost £5.8m up front, with a further £841k in add-ons, and will sign a contract until 2030.
Focus transfer
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big name failures. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across the Football FanCast.
Why Ozcan would be a good signing
Despite his inexperience, it was a really important season in the development of Ozcan 2024/25. He is only 18 years old made 18 appearances in the Turkish Premier League, starting all but one of Kasimpasa’s games this term. The one he didn’t start was their last game, a 5-0 loss to Gotzepe.
He is certainly a well-rated young player, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig describes him as a “very talented” defender. Part of the reason for such high praise could be partially related to his versatility. The 18-year-old can play at both central and left-back, making him an excellent option for Emery this term.
Indeed, he could be an excellent long-term replacement for Villans defender Carlos. The Brazilian is linked with leaving the club, and Fenerbahce made an offer that Villa rejected, according to The Athletic.
The 31-year-old brings experience to the Villans defense but has not been first choice under Emery this term. He has played 17 times in all competitions, and only ten of those matches come in the Premier League.
Looking at the statistical battle between the two, it’s easy to see why Ozcan could be a good long-term replacement and upgrade for Carlos at a glance statistics on Sofascore. The youngster surpasses the Villa star in several key defensive indicators.
For example, when we look at the stats of Carlos’ Premier League matches on Sofascorehe gets an average of 1.1 duels on the ground and 1.1 duels in the air per game. Comparatively, Ozcan averages 2.2 won duels on the ground and 2.1 won duels in the air.
|
Defensive stats of Ozcan vs Carlos |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (90 each) |
||
|
Interceptions |
2.1 |
0.5 |
|
Tackles won |
1.3 |
0.8 |
|
Ball recovery |
3.7 |
3.6 |
|
Move apart |
3.6 |
3.5 |
|
Matches won |
4.2 |
2.2 |
|
Duel win % |
51% |
47% |
|
Statistics from Sofascore |
||
As the stats suggest, the young Turkish star would certainly be an upgrade on Villa’s aging Brazilian defender. The fee for Carlos has not been stated, but it should only be around £6m for the club to reinvest that money back into signing Ozcan.
Bringing in the talented, left-footed defender aged just 18 for such a cheap price appears to be a brilliant piece of work by the Villans ahead of the 2025/26 season. and future seasons.
