Wahbi Khazri may have benefitted from moving to Aston Villa over Sunderland

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Former Ligue 1 star Wahbi Khazri would have been appreciated at Aston Villa this season; more so than at David Moyes’ Sunderland.

While Wahbi Khazri was playing a starring role in yet another great Sunderland escape, Aston Villa were plummeting into the second tier without even the briefest hope of pulling off a dramatic late survival bid.

It only rubs salt into the wounds, then, to remind Villa fans that they could have signed Khazri instead. That is if derided former owner Randy Lerner had been willing to put his hand in his pocket.

According to The Telegraph, manager Remi Garde had seriously considered walking away after the club failed to complete a single signing in the January 2016 transfer window. This was after a deal for Bordeaux play-maker Khazri fell through despite the player himself hinting that he would have been interested in a move to Villa Park.

“The team that is in last place in the [Premier] League is better than the side that is second or third in Ligue 1 at the moment,” he said in quotes reported by the Birmingham Mail.

And despite Villa’s relegation, you wonder whether Khazri would still have chosen them over Sunderland with the benefit of hindsight.

After all, a player with his creativity and ability to produce something out of nothing may have helped a Villa side lacking cutting edge to make a better fist of pushing for the play-offs this season. And there is little doubt his ability would be rather more appreciated at Villa Park than at the Stadium of Light.

Frozen out for almost the entire season by the dour David Moyes due to a perceived lack of work rate, his man of the match performance in Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with West Ham on Saturday, capped by a goal whipped directly in from a corner, showed the Scot what he had been missing.

Although, with Sunderland seemingly doomed, it is too little too late. Khazri looks certain to be joining Villa in the Championship next season. But with Moyes in charge, he may remain stuck in the stands.