Aston Villa departures are inevitable this summer due to bloated squad – report
Aston Villa are set to double down on their efforts to move players on this summer, either on loan or sales, according to the Birmingham Mail.
Steven Gerrard took a 33-man squad on Villa’s pre-season tour of Australia, meaning as many as nine players have to miss each match.
He described the squad as “bloated” following their victory over Leeds on Sunday morning (17 July), leading the Birmingham Mail to describe departures as “inevitable” during a Q&A on Monday (18 July).
Reporter Ashley Preece informed fans that he expected some players to leave on loan and others to be sold, though some will be tough to move on.
However, Carney Chukwuemeka may not be one of those sold as Preece predicted that no club will take him at Villa’s £20million asking price this summer.
Who stays and who goes?
There are likely to be departures in all areas of the squad, but the forward areas will receive the most attention.
Villa currently have Anwar El Ghazi, Bertrand Traore and Leon Bailey as wingers despite playing a narrow system towards the end of last season.
El Ghazi has been left out of Villa’s tour altogether, instead playing with the Under-23s in England, while Traore was one of the players who missed out against Leeds.
Striker Keinan Davis is likely to leave as well, with a Telegraph report from 12 July indicating that a move to Nottingham Forest may be back on.
Further down the pitch, midfielder Aaron Ramsey is likely to head out on another loan to the lower leagues with more youth players likely to join him.
Morgan Sanson could also head out the door to make room for a new midfielder, though Gerrard will likely wait until after the Australia tour is over.
Frederic Guilbert was the final player named as being likely to leave, although the French right-back is being given minutes this summer.
One man who is staying put for the time being is Cameron Archer, with Preece saying no decision will be made on him until the very end of the window.
No transfer business is likely to take place until after the club return from their tour, with Ludwig Augustinsson being snuck in just before they left.
With Villa being so secretive with their transfers, their business is likely to go until the last minute of the window.
In other Aston Villa news, the club will not be targeting Tomas Soucek or Conor Gallagher this summer.