Keinan Davis heads a group of Aston Villa talents who should look to leave the Birmingham outfit on loan during the January transfer window to impress boss Steven Gerrard in 2022.
Gerrard arrived at Villa Park in November to replace Dean Smith and will soon have his first chance to make changes to the playing squad the now-Norwich City coach had assembled.
Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins were two of the big-name signings Smith saw join Aston Villa during his tenure. But the striker duo’s presence at the club also came at Davis’ expense.
Davis needs loan exit to reignite Aston Villa career
Davis made his senior Aston Villa breakthrough during the 2017/18 Championship season, but has failed to establish a key presence. Smith especially rarely turned to the 23-year-old following the Villans’ Premier League return, with five starts in 34 games over three terms.
Watkins’ arrival in 2020 and Ings’ switch from Southampton this summer kept Davis down Smith’s pecking order. So much so the forward would have left Villa Park to join Stoke City on loan, but Birmingham Live note a late summer knee injury put an end to any deal.
Reports by The Athletic have claimed Championship sides are interested in a January loan transfer for Aston Villa outcast Davis. And with Gerrard unlikely to pick the former England Under-20 forward over Watkins or Ings, should listen to their approaches.
Ramsey’s time to shine with mid-season switch
Aaron Ramsey has been on the periphery of the Aston Villa first-team this season and could see a January loan transfer as his chance to shine in senior football away from Birmingham.
Smith handed the 18-year-old midfielder his first-team bow during the Villans’ Carabao Cup tie with Barrow in August. Ramsey has since taken up a seat on the bench sporadically, but spent much of his time in their U23s.
The Villans product has been a star in Mark Delaney’s development side, offering a driving force behind the striker. He has also shown his creativity, leadership and dominated games at youth level, so will now want to make the step up to a first-team somewhere next year.
Philogene-Bidace and Ramsey to show why they excite Gerrard with loan transfers
According to The Telegraph, Ramsey and Jaden Philogene-Bidace are among the Aston Villa academy talents who excite boss Gerrard. Soon after the manager’s arrival from Rangers, they noted the pair’s potential plus Carney Chukwuemeka had already stood out.
Like Ramsey, Smith handed Philogene-Bidace his senior debut before Aston Villa sacked the 50-year-old in November. The 19-year-old winger made his bow against Tottenham in May, but has struggled to prove a regular first-team presence since.
Philogene-Bidace featured in both of Aston Villa’s Carabao Cup ties this season and laid on two assists at Barrow. He has also been a constant goal threat at U23s level, but will soon outgrow the Premier League 2 stage.
So, Philogene-Bidace leaving Aston Villa on loan in the January transfer window for senior action could be the England U20 ace’s chance to show why his potential excites Gerrard.
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