Joey Barton is reportedly set to leave Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers, but Aston Villa should pass.
The Mirror reported on Tuesday that Aston Villa were considering a swoop for Joey Barton.
The 34-year-old is reportedly negotiating a severance deal with Rangers following a controversial and short career at Ibrox, having only joined in the summer.
And The Mirror report that Aston Villa are one of the clubs interested, but manager Steve Bruce should pass – even if it seems like a no-brainer on the surface.
The midfielder joined Rangers on the back of helping Burnley to Premier League promotion last season. In fact, he played a huge role in it, and was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year. That was his second promotion, having also helped QPR into the promised land back in 2014.
But does Steve Bruce really want to risk the feel-good vibes he has created at Aston Villa by bringing in such an unpredictable figure? He could be a revelation, sure, but his time in Glasgow proves that he can still be an absolute nightmare and it’s not worth the risk at the moment.
Bruce, 55, has won three of his first five matches since replacing Roberto Di Matteo last month – the other two being draws – and they sit five points off the playoffs as a result.
The Villans are going fine without Barton at the moment, and Mile Jedinak, a £4 million signing from Crystal Palace, is starting to look like the player who established himself as a proven Premier League talent down the years.
He is arguably a better, and younger, midfielder than Barton, and more toys might come out of the pram if the latter is sat on the bench every week.
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