Aston Villa Send Scouts to Watch 'Strong' Prestianni Play for National Team

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Aston Villa are said to be keeping a close eye on Benfica star Gianluca Prestianni during the international break.

Aston Villa are said to be scouting Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni during the international break as they consider adding further strength out wide . It has been a tough time for Villa, who went into the summer looking to take advantage of what should have been a step forward after qualifying for the Champions League.

But Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers were all sold, and Amadou Onana suffered a season-ending injury to make matters worse. Villa did recruit replacements, but there is an underlying frustration about how things have gone since the Midlands side booked their Champions League return.

There are even some whispers of clubs wanting to turn Unai Emery 's head, and Villa are going to have to be careful about that, likely needing to show the Spaniard they are still planning to keep moving forward even with the sales.

Recruitment is going to be a big part of that process, and according to a report from O Jogo in Portugal, Villa are eyeing a new winger in Prestianni. Villa are said to have watched the 20-year-old attacker in action for Benfica against Porto last week, and they are now said to be watching his international participation with Argentina during this international window.

Prestianni has enjoyed a fine start to the season, scoring eight and assisting three assists in just 12 games across all competitions. The young winger has been superb, and Villa are unlikely to be the only club interested in a move for him come January, and especially ahead of the summer, should he stay with Benfica until then.

Benfica are in a good position to keep him, mind you, with the winger tied down until 2029 and with a €100million release clause ​ ​. There has also been talk of Benfica offering the winger a pay rise with the hope of keeping interest at bay.

Prestianni's impressive league start in stats

Former Benfica boss José Mourinho was full of praise for Prestianni, saying in April: “Look, if I were in the stands, I'd applaud too. Because he's played well in the league, he's done a fantastic job, he's improved incredibly. At the moment, he's a player who, from a tactical point of view, is strong, knows how to position himself defensively, knows how to interpret the game...”

Mourinho also said a few months prior: “Now, he has learned to defend better. In a team like ours, which fundamentally defends zonally, you have to know the game, you have to analyze the game, you have to analyze the moment, you have to analyze the positioning of the ball.

> "And he is growing a lot in that regard, without losing his irreverence and technical quality. So, as you say, he has been playing more lately and will continue to do so. He is a player who is growing.”

Unai Emery is beginning to see his summer signings prosper at Aston Villa, and none more so than Zion Suzuki.

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