Neal Maupay: The Dean Smith favourite out to hurt Aston Villa this weekend

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Aston Villa come face-to-face with Neal Maupay this weekend after failing to sign him in the summer.

In Saturday’s Premier League clash, Aston Villa host Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove Albion in the West Midlands. Dean Smith will come up against Maupay – a man he tried to sign in the summer. But could that failed transfer come back to haunt the Villans?

Smith and Maupay partnership

Smith was the man who brought Maupay to England. In 2017, Smith took a punt on the former Nice and Saint-Etienne striker – who had no prior experience in England. It was a gamble that paid off and is arguably Smith’s best-ever business.

The diminutive striker was prolific under Smith at Brentford. In two seasons with the Bees, he struck 41 goals in just less than 100 games. His form continued even after Smith left for Villa and this earned him a move to the Premier League.

Maupay starts in good form

In the summer, Aston Villa dropped out of the race for Maupay after Brentford demanded £20m (Express & Star). The 23-year-old moved to Brighton instead and he has taken to life on the south coast.

With three goals in his first eight matches for the Seagulls, Maupay has shown early signs that he will be a hit. Maupay has a striker’s instinct, as shown with his goal against Tottenham in the last game, and he will be aiming for his fourth strike against Villa.

Mings the man to deal with him

Smith will be all too aware of the threat Maupay poses; he knows him better than most. The Frenchman is a danger at all times and Smith will be hoping Tyrone Mings can keep him quiet.

The newly-capped England international is on a high after making his debut and he will try to maintain his form this weekend. Maupay will have other ideas, though, and he could come back to haunt Smith for not pushing for the £20m move.