Tottenham transfer could solve Aston Villa problem for Steven Gerrard

Matty Cash continues to be linked with a move away from Aston Villa but Atletico Madrid have reportedly identified an alternative to the Poland international.

Atletico are looking to replace Kieran Trippier following his departure from the Spanish capital in January, with Cash linked with a move to Diego Simeone's side. Cash is the only player to have started every Villa game this season and has gone from strength to strength since he joined from Nottingham Forest in 2020.

He is only one-and-a-half seasons into life in the Premier League but has made the transition from second to first tier football well. Under contract until the end of June 2025, Villa have an asset on their hands whose value has improved drastically from the £14 million paid to Nottingham Forest in September 2020.

But they will not want to lose him because there is not another right-back at Villa who can easily slot in. Frederic Guilbert is clearly out of favour at Villa given he is currently out on loan at Strasbourg while 19 year-old Kaine Kesler Hayden, though highly rated, is untested at Premier League level.

That is why Atletico's supposed interest in Tottenham Hotspur full-back Emerson Royal could help Villa out. Spanish publication Marca report that Atletico have 'set their sights' on Royal and have held an interest in him since he moved to Barcelona in 2019.

Royal has extensive La Liga experience while Cash would require time to settle in, something that is in short supply given Atletico would want to mount another La Liga title charge. On the substitutes' bench for three of Spurs' last nine games, Royal has been in and out of Antonio Conte's side with Matt Doherty his competition at right-back.

Cash, meanwhile, is keen to continue