The Swansea City left-back is expected to complete his move to Aston Villa.
Aston Villa are negotiating a deal with Swansea City to swap Jordan Ayew for Welsh international left-back Neil Taylor, Sky Sports reports, but could he be a long-term replacement for Jordan Amavi?
While it is no surprise to see Ayew, who has failed to win over manager Steve Bruce since he took charge in October, finally pack his bags, the identity of the club’s latest imminent signing has come out of the blue.
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After all, it appeared that Modou Barrow, the lightning-quick Gambian winger, would be the most likely addition, but according to Sky Sports, Villa are set to take advantage of Swansea’s signing of Martin Olsson by handing Taylor an escape route.
The 27-year-old will be hoping that first-team opportunities are more forthcoming with the Championship giants although, as long as Amavi remains at Villa Park, that is far from guaranteed.
However, although the Birmingham Mail reported that Villa turned down a huge offer from Marseille for the flying full-back, there remains a nagging feeling that one of the brightest talents in the French game will not be content to fight for a top-half place in the English second tier for much longer.
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Especially when Marseille, a club boasting an exciting, money-spinning project and ambitions of returning to the Champions League, inevitably return with another bid in the near future.
Patrice Evra may have only joined earlier this month but, at 35, they will be on the lookout for a long-term replacement and Amavi fits the bill.
Therefore, Taylor’s impending arrival appears all the more important long term.
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