Aston Villa told to ‘get it done’ after source’s £18m El Ghazi update
Aston Villa have an abundance of attacking talent – and that means now is the right time to offload Anwar El Ghazi.
So says ex-Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 26-year-old winger’s future at Villa Park.
A recruitment source told this site on 19 October that Villa are willing to let El Ghazi go in January if suitors Roma meet their £18million asking price.
The Italian giants failed to reach an agreement to sign the Dutchman in the summer after they held preliminary talks with Villa.
El Ghazi, who is under contract at Villa Park until 2023, has not started in the Premier League in any of the last six matches.
A change in system and the arrival of the likes of Leon Bailey and Emiliano Buendia have limited his opportunities in 2021-22.
The Ajax academy product came off the bench for the final 15 minutes in last night’s (22 October) 3-1 away defeat to Arsenal.
A move to Jose Mourinho’s side in Serie A might be best for all parties, argues Kenny.
“He’s not been in their plans for a while now, so I don’t think this would be a bad move at all,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“If it frees money and wages up to maybe bring someone in January in, get it done.
“They’ve got a lot of really good attacking players now. Unfortunately, that means that they are going to have to have a bit of a clearout.
“If he is interested in that move and is ready to move to Italy, then it makes sense for both parties to go for it.”
In other news, pundit hails “great news” from John McGinn after Sky Sport’s Aston Villa latest.