Expert issues verdict on Aston Villa offloading Calum Chambers in January
Alan Hutton has tipped Calum Chambers to remain at Aston Villa this season.
But, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Villa defender insisted Unai Emery needs to improve the central defence to “get to the next level”.
The 27-year-old has made just five appearances for the Villans so far this season, two of which came in the League Cup.
The defender has only played 100 minutes of Premier League football under the new boss.
The centre-back featured for Emery’s side in the Peter Whittingham Memorial Match against Cardiff on Wednesday (30 November) where his side suffered a 3-1 defeat.
Chambers joined the Birmingham club in January and his current deal keeps him at Villa Park until 2025.
When asked if he is the type of player Emery will want to keep around, Hutton told Football Insider: “I think he will for now.
“I think it is an area where if Villa want to get to the next level they need to improve.
“We can all see that he wants to play from the back, the issues with the likes of Tyrone Mings, [Diego] Carlos being injured. He will want to put his own stamp on that.
“Of course he will keep him round for now but he has to fit in to the way Emery wants to play.“
Chambers made 11 appearances for Villa last season after his arrival from Arsenal.
In those outings the central defender scored one goal.
In other news, a pundit has suggested Emiliano Martinez ‘on his way out’ at Aston Villa after source’s ‘huge’ reveal.