Aston Villa tipped to sign upgrade on ‘weak’ Mings in January after Evans reveal – Whelan
Noel Whelan has claimed Joe Gomez would be an “exceptional signing” for Aston Villa in January.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 24-year-old could patch up the defensive “frailties” at Villa Park.
The Athletic‘s Gregg Evans reported last Wednesday that (22 December) the Liverpool defender is admired by Aston Villa and manager Steven Gerrard as they prioritise the signing of a centre-back.
Villa’s defensive shortcomings were laid bare against Chelsea on Sunday as Gerrard’s side fell 3-1 at home.
Tyrone Mings allowed Romelu Lukaku to steal a march on him for the Blues’ second before Ezri Konsa bundled the striker over to concede a penalty in the dying embers of the game.
Whelan insisted the addition of Gomez could give the current Villa defenders the push they need.
“He’s a fantastic player, and still very young,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“He’s done really well for Liverpool, it’s not his performances which has seen him out of the team – it’s the quality of his colleagues.
“If he’s available that would be an exceptional signing for Aston Villa. We saw the frailties against Chelsea on Sunday. Mings was really weak when defending Lukaku, and Konsa made a terrible choice to bring him down.
“He’d give Gerrard an extra option and the existing players that push, and he could even play him in a back three if he were to change his system.”
Aston Villa have conceded 28 goals in 18 Premier League games so far this season.
Gomez has played just 426 minutes of football for Liverpool this term.
In other news, an ex-Premier League referee has revealed an Aston Villa star should face an extended ban as controversial footage is analysed.