The Sunday News
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE next eight days are set to be crucial for Zimbabwean international Marvelous Nakamba who has to decide whether to stay or leave English Premier League side, Aston Villa.
Villa boss, Unai Emery has already told the midfielder he can leave. The January 2023 transfer window opened on 1 January and will close at 23:00 GMT on 31 January giving Nakamba eight days to make a decision. He is contracted to Aston Villa until June 2024.
Since the start of the transfer window, Nakamba has not been linked to any of the premier league teams. Fulham and Nottingham Forest who are said to have made enquiries about him on the deadline day of the last transfer window, they could perhaps be his next destination.
Nakamba’s few appearances had some feeling the Zimbabwe international’s type of play is too defensive, while others argue that he is perfect in protecting the defence as opposed to attacking and dictating play.
Marvelous Nakamba
The Zimbabwe international picked up a knee injury in a game against Liverpool in December 2021 which ruled him out for four months. Prior to the injury, Nakamba had clinched the Aston Villa player of the month award.
He had started every game under then-manager Steven Gerrad. On his return from injury, that is when he struggled for game time or even make match day squads more so under Emery. If Nakamba decides to stay, he is likely to be on the sidelines.
“In other positions as well we are speaking about how we can improve, some players like (Marvelous) Nakamba, I told him to leave,” Emery said in his pre-match Press conference on Thursday, the same day Nakamba was celebrating his 29th birthday.
The Spanish manager, who took over from Steven Gerrard also revealed that French midfielder Morgan Sanson could also leave in the current transfer window.
“(Morgan) Sanson as well is in the possibility to leave, but Sanson for me is a very good player, he understands very well how we want to play and he has the skill to do it, but he has to play in a team to be consistent, trying to play more and here it’s difficult to give him it – he is as well finding something to leave.
“If they are leaving – Nakamba, Sanson, maybe we (will) try to add one midfielder. It’s not clear about this possibility because I want to sign one player (who will) improve the quality of the squad.”
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