Sources: Aston Villa pull plug on El Ghazi exit after devastating injury blow
Dean Smith has pulled the plug on Aston Villa potentially selling Anwar El Ghazi this summer, Football Insider can reveal.
The Villa hierarchy and manager had been ready to listen to offers for the winger, 26, going into the next window as part of a plan to overhaul the wide attacking positions.
A Villa source has told Football Insider that Smith has made a U-turn and changed his mind on letting El Ghazi go following the devastating Trezeguet injury blow.
This site revealed last week that Villa are set to be without the Egypt international for a year after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Liverpool last month.
That means a change to the club's transfer plans as Smith believes he will need El Ghazi as a goalscoring and creative option.
He has scored in each of Villa's last two Premier League matches - against Everton and West Brom - to take his tally for the competition to an impressive eight goals.
Despite starting just 12 league fixtures, the Dutchman has nine goals from 26 appearances in all competitions this term.
That impressive strike rate and the Trezeguet blow have combined to make him more integral at Villa Park.
Nonetheless, club chiefs are pressing ahead with plans to bolster the team's attacking options regardless of whether Jack Grealish stays.
Villa are in the market to bring in two wide forwards this summer, as revealed by this site last month.