Aston Villa have been tipped to sign Jake Livermore from Midland rivals West Bromwich Albion when the Baggies’ Premier League relegation is confirmed.
A month ago, reports in the Sun (8 April, page 13) that Aston Villa were preparing a £10 million swoop for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jake Livermore seemed a little underwhelming.
Certainly, Villa fans were less than impressed by reports that manager Steve Bruce could pay big to sign a player he knows from his previous spell in charge of Hull City. Some disgruntled supporters even quipped that they would rather miss out on promotion if Livermore was the standard of player they would aim to sign in preparation for the Premier League.
But since Alan Pardew was given the boot and Darren Moore took over as caretaker manager, Livermore has found form at the perfect time, with the World Cup and the transfer window just around the corner.
The 28-year-old has looked a man reborn in the last two matches. He hooked home a goal in the impressive 2-2 comeback draw with Liverpool a fortnight ago, before setting up the winner against Newcastle United at St James’ Park with a superb volleyed pass into Matt Phillips.
The fact West Brom have not been relegated yet is down largely to Livermore’s sudden resurgence.
Perhaps he knows that he needs to perform now with a World Cup place on the line, not to mention in order to secure a good move away from The Hawthorns this summer.
Keep performing like this in the next two games, and for England at Russia, and no Villa fans will be questioning Livermore’s £10 million price-tag then.
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