Sheffield United’s Conor Hourihane has indicated this his Aston Villa career is over as he prepares to become a free agent this summer.
Hourihane is out of contract at Villa this summer and the writing has been on the wall for a little while now.
Hourihane played just four Premier League games for Villa last season before being loaned out to Swansea City.
Even after five goals and two assists in 22 Championship games for Swansea, there was no route to first-team action at Villa.
Villa instead decided to loan Hourihane out again, this time sending him off to Sheffield United.
That was a major indication of Villa’s thoughts given that they were loaning Hourihane out for the final year of his contract.
Hourihane continues to look more than capable in the Championship, recording four assists in 24 Championship games.
Working under his former Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom, Hourihane is an important player for the Blades.
That relationship with Heckingbottom may make a permanent move to Bramall Lane seem very appealing to Hourihane this summer.
Hourihane is bound to attract plenty of interest from Championship clubs this summer given that Hourihane is, as things stand, set to become a free agent.
Steven Gerrard faces the final decision on Hourihane’s future, but won’t have had first-hand experience of seeing the Irishman in training.
With that in mind, Hourihane – who was branded a ‘wonderful finisher’ by former Villa boss Steve Bruce – believes his time at Villa is up.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Hourihane admitted that he is ‘probably done’ at Villa Park.
Hourihane claims he hasn’t even had contact with Villa about his future, so is just assuming he will be a free agent in a matter of months.
“That Villa chapter is probably done,” said Hourihane “There’s been nothing, to be honest with you. No conversations there so we’ll see what happens in the summer,” he added.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
