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Aston Villa reigniting their interest in this 6ft 3in French giant would add some much-needed quality to their squad

Why Aston Villa must reignite their interest in Harold Moukoudi

According to a report from France Football, Aston Villa have reignited their interest in Le Havre defender Harold Moukoudi.

Aston Villa were keen to sign the 21-year-old last summer but a move didn’t materialise. However, the Championship outfit are now hoping to land him in a cut-price deal in January as Harold Moukoudi is out of contract at Le Havre at the end of this season.

But with Bundesliga clubs Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund also interested in the French stopper, Aston Villa have to show more ambition if they are to lure him away from Ligue 2 to Villa Park.

It’s no secret that Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is keen to bolster his defensive options in January, having already conceded 40 goals in the league. They currently sit 10th in the Championship table – five points off the play-off places.

Axel Tuanzebe

The elimination at the hands of Swansea City in the FA Cup on Saturday exposed Villa’s defensive frailties and the club’s need for reinforcements this month.

Axel Tuanzebe picked up an injury during preparation for the Championship clash with Leeds United at Villa Park before Christmas. He is now set to spend nearly three months on the sidelines with a metatarsal injury.

Losing Tuanzebe in the crucial period of the season is a big blow, which leaves Smith with James Chester, James Bree and Tommy Elphick, who was recalled from his loan spell at Hull City at the start of the New Year.

Harold Moukoudi would be a welcome addition to the Villa side that is leaking goals at an alarming rate. The Frenchman is a real talent and could be exactly what Villa need. Standing at 6ft 3in with a towering frame, the 21-year-old is known for his game-reading ability. His height provides him with an obvious advantage over most of his offensive counterparts.

Moukoudi is also comfortable in passing the ball from the back and never hesitates to run with the ball at his feet before releasing it to his teammate. The former France U20 international has the smart cocktail of speed and strength, combined with his brilliant defensive mind and tackling traits.

Read more: Dean Smith should raid his former club to bring this talented No. 10 powerhouse to Aston Villa in January

Signing Moukoudi would add quality to a critical area for the Villans, and would provide a much-needed boost for the second half of the campaign. It would require Villa to splash a lot of money for the 21-year-old but since he can fix their defensive issues, they should go all out and snap him up.