Alan Hutton has been left drooling as Aston Villa set their sights on signing Brentford attacker Said Benrahma this summer.
The former Villa star, who quit the club last year and remains in close contact with the players and management, has revealed that Dean Smith is a big fan of the 24-year-old and has watched him numerous times since leaving the Bees.
As revealed byĀ Football Insider, the Villans are plotting a double raid to sign both Benrahma and teammate Ollie Watkins after Brentford’s play-off final defeat to Fulham.
The Bees are set for another season in the Championship after a Joe Bryan double sank their promotion hopes at Wembley.
Hutton admits he would love to see the Algeria international at Villa Park next season and has lifted the lid on just how big a fan Smith is of his former player.
Asked if he thought Villa would get involved in the fight for Benraham’s capture, Hutton exclusively told Football InsiderĀ assistant editor Russell Edge:Ā “Oh definitely. I can’t see him staying at Brentford, if I’m honest, he’ll 100 per cent move – it’s just where? Who can offer him the best chance of playing at a decent level?
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“Look, Dean Smith has watched him on numerous occasions, he really likes him as a player and I think he’s fantastic, not just in the semi-final and the final but throughout the season, I thought he was a brilliant player for them.
“I’d be really happy if Villa could sign him – hopefully, fingers crossed. I think he’d be a great addition and something they need on the attacking from and on the wings to really help out.”Ā
Smith signed Benrahma for Brentford from OGC Nice back in 2018 and played him 14 times before leaving Griffin Park for Villa.
Benrahma netted 17 goals and contributed 10 assists for the Bees over the 2019/20 campaign.
