Sources: Wesley not expected to be at Aston Villa next season as transfer plan revealed
Aston Villa are planning to loan out former record signing Wesley next season after nearly 18 months of injury hell, Football Insider has learned.
The Midlands giants forward, 24, made his long-awaited comeback last month 16 months after suffering an ACL injury to his right knee on New Year’s Day 2020.
But Villa have moved on since Wesley was the first choice spearhead in the team and a club source has told Football Insider the plan is to loan him out next season and recruit a new striker.
The club have no hope this summer of recouping the-then club record £22million paid to Club Bruges in the summer of 2019.
Villa believe the best solution would be a season-long loan to reignite Wesley's career and and give him the chance of regular football.
That said, manager Dean Smith was not convinced by the Brazilian before his devastating injury and Ollie Watkins is seen as a major upgrade on his predecessor.
Wesley scored six goals in 22 appearances before he broke down, equivalent to £1m per match.
He has subsequently had 16 minutes of action over the last few weeks as a late substitute in three Premier League matches.
Loaning out Wesley would allow Villa the chance to strengthen their attack in the summer window.
Proven forwards are top of Smith's target list after the glaring lack of creativity and firepower was underlined during Jack Grealish's lengthy injury absence.
Villa could bring in two wide men as well as an orthodox striker, with former loan star Tammy Abraham a top target.