Anwar El Ghazi left out of Aston Villa pre-season tour squad
Anwar El Ghazi has been left out of the Aston Villa squad for their pre-season tour of Australia, in the latest hint that he could leave this summer.
The first-team squad travelled Down Under for pre-season friendlies against Leeds, Brisbane Roar and Manchester United as they prepare for their Premier League opener against Bournemouth.
But they’re doing so without Holland international El Ghazi, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Everton, and he looks set to leave the club now.
Steven Gerrard hasn’t relied on the 27-year-old at all and with several incoming signings already this summer, he has become further surplus to requirements.
He did start in the pre-season clash against Walsall but then didn’t travel with the squad to Australia and instead scored for an XI that faced off against Hednesford that was beaten 4-3.
Bye bye
At this point, Villa have moved past the point of needing El Ghazi to be a part of their squad considering the options they now have available to them.
Leon Bailey, Philippe Coutinho, Emiliano Buendia, Bertrand Traore and even Ollie Watkins are better options on the wing for the way that Gerrard wants to play.
El Ghazi is a wide man whose primary intention is always to step in from the touchline and shoot, but he’s not as good as he feels he is and his exit will be welcomed by fans.
The squad is taking shape for the new season and outgoings need to happen to trim the fat, something that El Ghazi is certainly part of. His 11 minutes of action for Everton on loan shows the level he is currently performing at.
If the club are able to get some cash in for him then that would be a perfect end to a fun period of time together, and with just 12 months remaining on his deal the possibility of a free transfer just to get him off the books shouldn’t be ruled out either.
In other Aston Villa news, Cameron Archer could force his way into the first-team picture with pre-season performances