Aston Villa target Kiril Despodov has been compared to Hristo Stoichkov, who handed him his debut

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Aston Villa are reportedly interested in the CSKA Sofia attacker Kiril Despodov this month. The Sunday Mirror (06/01/2019; pg 67) reports that the 22-year-old is wanted by Aston Villa in a £5 million deal. Middlesbrough and Cardiff City are also keen.

The talented player, who has five caps and one goal for the Bulgarian national team, can play anywhere across the front three. He has been in fine form this season, scoring 10 and assisting 11 goals in 22 games. Aston Villa fans will also, no doubt, be excited to hear who he has been compared to.

As suggested to the player himself in an interview with Bulgarian sports site Gong, Despodov is considered a potential ‘new Hristo Stoichkov’ in Bulgaria.

‘The Dagger’ was considered one of the greatest European footballers of the 1990s. He spent time with Barcelona and Parma throughout the decade, during which he helped Bulgaria to the final four of the 1994 World Cup where he won the Golden Boot. That same year, he won the Ballon d’Or.

“I personally do not want to compare myself with Hristo Stoichkov because he is a great and he has achieved too much.

I also dream of such a career. With God, he made things happen and glorified Bulgaria in the world. Wherever you go, everyone nows Stoichkov.”

– Kiril Despodov on Hristo Stoichkov comparisons

A robust and tireless forward, Stoichkov today is perhaps most comparable to Luis Suarez.

Despodov shares similar traits. To continue the link, it was actually Stoichkov who handed him his professional debut whilst manager of his former club Litex Lovech.

If he does live up to the billing he is receiving in his homeland, then Aston Villa would be very happy to snap him up at just £5 million.