£5m ace is in form of his life but Aston Villa must get rid this summer after quit confession
COMMENT By Richard Parks
Aaron Tshibola has opened the door to quitting Aston Villa – and the club should ignore his sparkling form and not hesitate in helping him to the exit.
The Midlands giants are better off cashing in on the player, who, according to the Birmingham Mail, cost a princely £5million rather than hoping he can replicate his current form for Kilmarnock back in the Midlands.
The central midfielder’s career was going nowhere fast before he joined the Scottish top-flight club in January after failing to sparkle while on loan at Nottingham Forest in the second half of last season and MK Dons earlier in this campaign.
Villa will be delighted that Tshibola has rediscovered his mojo at Steve Clarke’s side.
The 23-year-old has made eight appearances for the Scottish club, six of which have been won during their against-the-odds climb to fifth in the table, and has earned rave reviews for his performances in central midfield.
He is playing alongside some experienced and demanding pros at Killie, where Kris Boyd, Youssouf Mulumbu, Gary Dicker and Kirk Broadfoot will all make him aware of the demands of the club.
Tshibola’s latest fine display came in Saturday’s shock 1-0 win at Rangers, with his participation ended just after an hour because Clarke was concerned he had just received a yellow card.
Tshibola’s career had stagnated in England but has been reignited in Ayrshire and it is not hyperbolic to assert that he is in the best form of his career.
Does that mean Villa should seize the opportunity and have him back? No, not quite.
Tshibola’s stance is that he would be interested in extending the agreement if it suits all parties due to the progress he’s making.
Tshibola told the Daily Record of his Kilmarnock spell: “It’s a joy coming in here. Being in the right environment was key to me and the team is on a high.
“The morale is great in the changing room, the lads are buzzing and to be around a great spirit every day is fantastic for me to try to get to the levels I want.
“The most important thing for myself is to continue my development and the only way that can happen is by me playing first-team games. At the moment I’m doing that and helping the team and we’re doing well. It’s important I don’t stagger that development.
“Obviously you can’t think too far ahead to next season but in the near future the aim is to continue to develop.
“If that means being reunited here in the future and going forward and making the right step we’ll see.”
Tshibola has certainly done better at Kilmarnock than anyone at Villa dared hope, but he is not good enough for the Midlands giants, regardless of whether they secure promotion to the Premier League.
With his star in the ascendant, it is time in the coming weeks to put him up for sale and get rid, even if it means taking a major financial hit.
In other Aston Villa news, it has been revealed that a Villa striker has cancelled his accommodation and walked out on Championship club.