Jonathan Rowe is the exact sort of player Aston Villa should be signing – he’s got that spice to him that Unai Emery can handle.
That is the verdict of Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor, who was wowed by the Bologna winger’s performance against his old club last season.
The 23-year-old could be on his way to English football after a topsy-turvy two-season spell in France and now Italy.
Rowe scored the winning goal for the Young Lions in England’s Under-21 Euros final win last summer after completing a permanent move to Marseille following a successful loan the year before.
However, the attacker was told to find a new club by now-Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi after a furious bust-up with Adrien Rabiot.
Rowe made the move to Bologna in Italy, but now could be on the move again despite managing just three goals in 28 Serie A games.
The former Norwich City starlet was a rare shining light for his side in their run to the Europa League quarter-finals last season.
Rowe scored Bologna’s only goal across their 7-1 aggregate defeat to eventual tournament winners Villa, who are now hoping to sign him.
And talkSPORT Breakfast presenter Agbonlahor believes he fits the bill, with his old side set to lose £117million Morgan Rogers to Chelsea.
Jonathan Rowe to Aston Villa
On Rowe, talkSPORT’s Jeff Stelling said: ” Reports are that Chelsea and Villa are interested, which could boost his chances of eventually getting in the England squad.
“We’re going to be looking for a number nine. He doesn’t score a lot of goals, hasn’t scored a lot of goals in Italy.
“But I remember his performances for the England under-21s when he won the Euros, and he was absolutely exceptional.”
4
‘A player that I want Aston Villa to get’
Agbonlahor said: “I watched him in the games against Aston Villa, and Matty Cash is a top defender, but he ripped him, ripped him up, Jeff.
“He was direct, stop-start, quick, very sharp. He’s a player that I really want Aston Villa to go and get.
“If you look at his appearances last season, he could score more goals, Jeff, only three goals in 28 league games and only four goals in 12 Europa League games.
“Has he got to produce more output in goals and assists? Yes, he does, but if there’s a manager to get it out of him, it’s Unai Emery.
“If I had my perfect world, I’d love Rowe and [Crysencio] Summerville. Aston Villa need wingers, and I think he fits that bill.”
4
4
Rowe has proven he’s still got a bit of the red mist that led to his Marseille exit by getting a red card in a friendly match last week.
Bologna’s No.11 was sent off for shoving Stefano Russo to the ground after a stiff challenge in a 4-0 pre-season defeat to Arminia Bielefeld.
Agbonlahor added: “[Age] 23, but what he has got, Jeff, he’s got that spark to him that maybe some managers will have to calm him down.
“He had the fight with Rabiot at Marseille, and both of them got sold by De Zerbi.
“I had just seen a clip last week of a preseason friendly, and he got caught by a defender, and he ran over, pushed the defender over, [and] had to walk off the pitch in anger.
“So he’s got that spice to him that maybe a manager like Unai Emery can calm him down.
“But top, top winger and I’m sure clubs will be looking at him.”
