Wolverhampton Wanderers signed Ryan Bennett, Willy Boly and Conor Coady for half the fee Villa are reportedly investing in Tyrone Mings.
Only in this day and age could a club make an £18 million profit on a player who started just ten league games in two-and-a-half years. But that is exactly what Bournemouth are about to do.
According to the Guardian, Tyrone Mings is on his way to Aston Villa for a staggering £26.5 million. And while Villa supporters will be thrilled to see Mings return on the back of his exceptional loan spell between January and June, the Cherries probably cannot believe their luck with Dean Smith’s side set to break the bank for a player who will now become the Midland giants’ new record signing.
In truth, Mings has the potential to be worth every penny of that £26.5 million price-tag.
But with Aston Villa set to break the bank, it feels pertinent to praise the club a few miles down the road – Wolverhampton Wanderers.
After all, Nuno Espirito Santo’s much-vaunted back three of Willy Boly, Ryan Bennett and Conor Coady cost just £12 million combined. Club captain Coady was a £2 million signing from Huddersfield Town (BBC) while Bennett arrived on a free after he was released by Norwich City.
Few in England had even heard of Boly, meanwhile, when he arrived from Porto two years ago.
And with Aston Villa set to pay £26.5 million for Mings after just 18 appearances during a loan spell in claret and blue, Wolves’s ability to both spot a bargain and eke every drop of talent out of their squad simply must be recognised.
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