Former Tottenham and PSG player Serge Aurier linked with Villarreal signing.

Javi Mata has forwarded on a report from RMC suggesting that free agent Serge Aurier was at yesterday’s match between Villarreal and Real Betis and that he may be signing for us in the next day or so. After watching us field a right flank of Juan Foyth and Manu Trigueros, today, I can see some logic in having an attacking option on that side and Aurier, still just 28, fits the bill.

Of course, Aurier and Unai Emery have worked together before, at oil giants Paris St. Germain. In that spell, Emery used him as a rotational option at right back and I think the idea here would be similar, since he offers such a different player profile from Juan Foyth. Once Aurier moved to Tottenham, his career seems to have been harassed by a number of small injuries. He missed ten matches with a groin injury at one point, another thirteen with a hamstring, and six with a foot problem. He also had ten different problems that cost him one or two matches. This all, of course, is from 18/19 until now. I’m not sure if that classifies as a lot of injury problems or not, but it was enough to keep him from ever really establishing himself at the London club.

If this move actually happens, we’ll give you more of a player profile on him soon. The main person losing out on this move would seem to be Ruben Penha, who is also an attack minded right back. I like Penha, but I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing him move on in January. I think the Aurier idea is interesting, and I think it’s worth seeing what he has left in the tank. As long as the salary isn’t too high, I’m in.