Aston Villa Women should pull out all the stops for Kirsty Hanson and Anna Patten in summer transfer window
Aston Villa Women have taken huge strides in the Women’s Super League this season, but the upcoming transfer window is likely to decide whether they are here to stay.
Carla Ward’s side have enjoyed a brilliant 2022/23 campaign and are already guaranteed to finish in fifth place with one game of the season remaining.
What has been central to the success of the first team were the season-long loan acquisitions of Kirsty Hanson and Anna Patten, who have both more than played their part since sealing moves from Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively.
But with both players set to return to their parent clubs in the coming weeks, a couple of glaring holes in the Villa squad are set to emerge.
If there is any possibility that the Villans can maintain the permanent services of both players, they must do all in their power to do so.
After a slow start to life in claret and blue, Hanson burst into life around the turn of the year and has not looked back since. Over the course of the season, the winger sits only second to Rachel Daly for goal contributions at Villa, netting eight goals and providing a further 10 assists.
The 25-year-old has registered the joint-highest shot accuracy of any Villa player (64%) while also scoring the second-most goals per 90 minutes (0.33), which is only bettered by Daly once again. [BBC Sport]
Although Patten might not have stolen the headlines that Hanson has in recent months, due to the fact she has often been chopped in and out of the team for Rachel Corsie, the Arsenal loanee has still experienced a fruitful season.
At 33 years old, Corsie isn’t likely to be in the long-term plans of Ward, so having Patten waiting in the wings could be a brilliant option to call upon if the club can tempt Arsenal into selling her this summer.
Both loanees have brought their own qualities to the West Midlands this season, and Aston Villa would be foolish not to enquire into their permanent services.
In other Aston Villa Women news, Evie Rabjohn’s move to Manchester United Women is a massive blow.