It has been a strange season for Aston Villa in the Premier League. The club bid farewell to Dean Smith back in November, while Steven Gerrard’s arrival is yet to really see the club hit top form in the Premier League. Another season with a mid-table is likely, but the fans will be demanding more next term, as a European challenge must be the goal.
A big summer lies ahead for the Villa this year, and a number of first-team stars could be ushered out of the Villa Park exit to make room for new arrivals. But, which players could be on their way out of the club over the coming months?
Douglas Luiz
Douglas Luiz looks like a player that the club could be willing to part ways with in the summer according to the odds from sports books and casinos such as casino.netbet.co.uk. The 23-year-old has been a favourite among the Villa faithful since arriving from Manchester City, but his place in the starting eleven will certainly be under threat if Gerrard gets his wish and the club is able to tempt Yves Bissouma to the Midlands.
It looked likely that the Brazilian was on his way out in January, as Arsenal was heavily linked with making a move for the midfielder. Despite, a decent season for the Midlands club this term, it’s likely that Villa will be willing to listen to offers for Luiz when the transfer window re-opens.
Ashley Young
Ashley Young’s return to the Villa last summer was welcomed as a strong piece of business by the club, as he undoubtedly offered strength in depth that was evidentially missing throughout the 2019-20 season. However, he has struggled to really fit in on his return to Villa Park, with the majority of his performances coming from the bench in the Premier League.
Young has registered two assists throughout the season, and his experience has been invaluable to a youthful backline. However, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season, it would be hard to imagine the club signing him up to a new deal for another season when the long-term aim of the Villa is to bring through young and exciting players. Fans will be sad to see him go, but it looks to be the right move.
Wesley
Wesley is almost the forgotten man at Villa Park. He was sent out on loan to Club Brugge in the first half of the campaign, making just three appearances. During the second half of the campaign, he has been playing in Brazil with Internacional but has made just one start. The 25-year-old has certainly seen his career come to a standstill since moving to Villa Park in 2019, with much of that likely being down to his injury issues.
However, it could be the right time for both club and player to part ways. Villa will get the best possible re-sale value on the Brazilian this summer, as his current deal runs until 2024. It’s extremely unlikely that the club will get anywhere near the £22 million that they paid for him, but a fresh start will certainly give Wesley the best chance he has of recapturing his form.
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