Aaron Tshibola

Con wrote:What an interesting signing this could be!

Di Matteo signed Youssouf Mulumbu when at the Baggies as a 22-year-old PSG graduate to help get them out of the Championship. Now at Villa he's about to sign a very similar powerful, midfielder.

Reading fans consider the 21-year-old Aaron Tshibola the "Jewel in the Crown" of their academy. At 6'3 he is built more like Pogba than Mulumbu (who's 5 inches shorter) and apparently has a maturity to go with it.

Tshibola also reportedly has a good shot so has the potential to offer going forward; if he can head the ball as well he may have a better than the 1 in 12 strike-rate that Mulumbu has achieved at West Brom.

Reading fans are very disappointed to see him go but will give him a big cheer when we visit at the Madejski stadium because he is well liked.

If the deal goes through, we apparently will pay Reading £5 million for the transfer.

Really hope he achieves his potential.

Aston Villa are landing a major talent in Aaron Tshibola.

A fee of £5 million may seem a tad extravagant for a 21-year-old who has made just 17 appearances in the Championship.

But I have no doubt in my mind that - providing he stays clear of any serious injuries - Tshibola will go on to prove to be an absolute steal for the Villa Park club.

Steve Clarke saw it instantly upon Tish’s return from his loan spell at Hartlepool - he had turned into a man during those five months at Victoria Park and was immediately promoted to the first-team.

So it is no surprise to see Reading’s former manager come back to raid Madejski Stadium for the player who he handed his full senior Royals debut.

And make no mistake about it, this deal has Clarke’s hands all over it. He would have been in Roberto Di Matteo’s ear telling him to sign Tshibola from the moment the pair linked up in the Midlands.

It’s a fine signing for Villa. They have landed a midfielder who has everything required to go to the very top.

As strong as an ox, Tshibola has the physical stature to dominate in the middle of the park.

It can be easy to pigeon hole him as a defensive midfielder - just because of his size - but he has so much more to his game.

He can go from box to box, is a threat in the attacking third and has a thunderous shot on him - as we witnessed at Birmingham City on the opening day of last season.

So Villa and their fans can rest assured they have landed themselves a huge talent - someone who could go to become a major player in Di Matteo’s new look team.

Reading supporters meanwhile have to come to terms with the fact that the club’s brightest young talent is moving on.

Just a look around social media since the news broke shows how high a regard Tshibola is held at Madejski Stadium.

But the fact is this was a deal that was inevitable. From the moment the player told Jaap Stam he wanted to leave , there was only one outcome.

It’s a blow, a massive one, but at least the transfer fee is far higher than the £2m that was originally mooted. The key thing now is that the cash is reinvested.

achilles wrote:Seems like an ideal signing, very little downside, fair fee for an English player of his age and possible potential and also comes with no obvious baggage!

smetro wrote:

achilles wrote:Seems like an ideal signing, very little downside, fair fee for an English player of his age and possible potential and also comes with no obvious baggage!

Apart from his injury record - and the fact he completed 90 minutes for reading on a grand total of 3 occasions.

Get the feeling he will either be a total revelation for us - or a total flop. He's very raw - but seems very highly rated.

Some people are saying Gollini is close - while others saying he's not coming ?

At least we are making some moves - nobody gets it right all the time, but going largely with last seasons squad would have been a massive let down IMO.

Winger and a striker and I would really be happy with our squad

achilles wrote:Perhaps he is having problems passing the medical, that may explain why it has gone quiet!

Villa_Dan wrote:Medical today and he'll fly out with the squad for preseason along with Gollini.

According to Gregg Evans anyway.

Breaking news: We are delighted to confirm the signing of @AaronTshibola on a four year deal. #AVFC #WelcomeAaron pic.twitter.com/vhepMCBhhs

— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) July 10, 2016