Aston Villa should have gone all out in January for Said Benrahma after summer interest

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Aston Villa lost yet again yesterday despite adding to their squad in January and spending big sums in the summer.

The Villans continue to find themselves near the foot of the table. Dean Smith’s men are far from safe in the Premier League and it will take a big effort between now and the end of the season to stay up.

Smith can’t complain he’s not been backed, either. A host of big-money summer signings such as Trezeguet, Tyrone Mings, and Wesley all arrived at Villa Park.

In January, too, the club backed him. New signings such as Samatta, Pepe Reina, and Borja Baston will be hoping to help Villa to cement their place.

However, one can’t help but think Villa might regret not following up their summer interest in Brentford man, Said Benrahma.

The Bees star was in fine form yesterday once again. He netted a hat-trick as Thomas Frank’s men blitzed Hull City 5-1 at the KCom.

One of the Championship’s very best

Benrahma has developed into one of the finest attacking players in the Championship in the last 12 months.

His stats last season were impressive enough. He hit double figures for both goals and assists and is well on course to do that again this year. This, despite missing a chunk of the campaign through injury.

Benrahma’s link with Ollie Watkins at the top of the pitch is vital for Brentford. Furthermore, he has that knack of being able to beat a player with ease.

Like fellow Algerian, Riyad Mahrez, it seems to come naturally to him to simply glide past players.

It seems strange, then, that rather than press ahead with efforts to sign him, that Villa opted for the likes of Borja and Samatta.

Of course, funds can play a part. Brentford were likely to demand a big sum of money for their star man. However, the Bees have proved they are open to selling players in the past.

The likes of Neal Maupay, Romaine Sawyers, and Chris Mepham have all been sold on in recent times.

It feels a bit like Aston Villa have missed a trick with Said Benrahma. Indeed, salt could be rubbed into the wound further if the Bees win promotion and Villa fail to maintain their Premier League place.