After Steven Gerrard left Rangers to join Aston Villa on Thursday, it’s a good thing Conor Hourihane isn’t at the club.
The Villans announced Gerrard as Dean Smith’s successor yesterday, following a successful spell in charge of Rangers.
The 41-year-old helped the Gers to their first Scottish Premiership title in a decade last season and, in the process, ended Celtic’s 10-in-a-row bid.
Those two factors made the legendary midfielder a revered figure at Ibrox, but now he’s set for a new and exciting adventure with Aston Villa.
Hourihane, a Republic of Ireland international, left Villa to join Sheffield United on a season-long loan this past summer.
Back in 2017, the 30-year-old midfielder made his feelings for the light Blues perfectly clear after revealing they were a team that he secretly hated.
But Gerrard won’t have to make any awkward decisions about Hourihane because it looks as if the Irishman is finished at Bodymoor Heath.
He is only contracted to Aston Villa until next summer and with the former Barnsley star being on loan until then, he won’t be getting a new deal.
Hourihane helped the Villans win Premier League promotion under Smith in 2019 but increasingly struggled in the top flight, after signing a contract extension until the summer of 2022.
He has started two Championship games for the Blades this season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
