Aston Villa to accelerate central midfielder search after Carney Chukwuemeka exit – report
Aston Villa are now ready to accelerate their search for a new central midfielder after the exit of Carney Chukwuemeka, according to Ashley Preece.
The 18-year-old had been refusing to sign a new deal at Villa Park and was therefore left out of the club’s tour of Australia and effectively put up for sale by the club.
Premier League rivals Chelsea were the club who eventually secured his services in a deal worth £20million but his sale does leave Steven Gerrard short of numbers in central midfield.
“Midfield search will now accelerate. Villa didn’t envisage Chelsea swooping in as aggressive as they did,” Preece said in a Birmingham Live Forum. “AC Milan were haggling around for ages. Happened really quick and Villa will look to fill Carney’s void now in midfield.
Gerrard stressed he wanted a new midfielder last month so Lange has been given his remit. Still, a little less than a month to go before window closes.
“No names in the frame just yet, sadly. Villa very good at keeping business under wraps. This time 12 months ago Danny Ings was on his way to Bodymoor! Fancy us to whack Bournemouth on Saturday.”
Daylight robbery
To get a fee of £20million for a player in the final year of his contract and who would have been available for just £400,00 in compensation come January is an incredible piece of business.
Chelsea have had their pants pulled down in broad daylight in this instance and even if Chukwuemeka’s absence leaves Gerrard a little short to start the new campaign, it was not a deal the club could possibly turn down.
It had become evident that the teenager was going to leave once his contract expired anyway so now Aston Villa have a big wad of cash that they can put towards a new signing of their own.
It won’t happen in time to face Bournemouth on the South Coast on Saturday due to the registration deadline at midday on Friday (5 August) but knowing how quickly Villa get transfers done, a new midfielder could well be through the door in rapid time.
In other Aston Villa news, two of the Cherries’ new signings have already been ruled out of this weekend’s clash to leave Scott Parker scratching his head.