Frank Lampard leads race to sign Aston Villa sensation for Coventry
Aston Villa are set for a busy summer in the transfer window.
Unai Emery will be looking for top-quality talent, especially if his side qualify for the Champions League for a second successive season.
However, to bring in those types of players, Emery and Monchi will have to sanction exits for some of the Villa Park‘s current stars, as the financial situation in B6 is still up in their air.
Kesler-Hayden set for Villa exit as Coventry lead race
Kaine Kesler-Hayden enjoyed a sensational loan stint at Preston last season, making 44 appearances in the Championship, notching five goal contributions in the process.
A report from the Sun on Sunday (page 55, 18 May) claims that Coventry are leading the race to sign the Villans starlet.
It states that Frank Lampard‘s side are willing to pay £5million plus add-ons for the 22-year-old, who has been informed that his Villa career is over.
Villa could regret letting Kesler-Hayden leave
Hayden has been on five loan stints since breaking into the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath.
Spells at Swindon Town, MK Dons, Huddersfield Town, Plymouth Argyle and Preston have given the youngster a regular experience of senior football and he could have made an impact on Emery’s squad next season.
| Stats (Championship) | Kesler-Hayden |
| Matches | 44 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Minutes played | 3,672 |
However, it appears that he will not get the chance to expand on his three appearances for the West Midlands club, with Lampard in pole position to strike a deal.
Playing regular first-team football is vital for a player’s development at this stage though and if Emery cannot offer it, the move makes sense for both parties.
It is a shame as Villa have often sold their best talents in recent years, with Tim Iroegbunam leaving for Everton last summer and Jack Grealish in 2021.
In a world that is dictated by Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules though, it represents pure profit as they did not pay anything for the player and would help with their situation, which has seen them sell the likes of Jhon Duran and Moussa Diaby and still not be on the right side of the line.
If he goes on to become a superstar elsewhere, the Villans could regret allowing him to leave in the near future.