Aston Villa will sound out any interest in Anwar El Ghazi come the January transfer window if the winger cannot regain a key role in Dean Smith’s plans, according to Birmingham Live.
El Ghazi started the Premier League campaign as one of Smith’s go-to players, but lost his place after August. The Dutch international had occupied starting roles in the Villans’ first three top-flight fixtures, but has only played 31-minutes since.
Smith overlooked El Ghazi during Aston Villa’s five games between drawing with Brentford and losing at Arsenal. Making his only appearance in that period against Chelsea in the EFL Cup after scoring and assisting twice against Barrow.
Roma explored a move for El Ghazi during the summer transfer window, but did not agree terms with Aston Villa. The Giallorossi may revive their pursuit in January, though may face several rival suitors for the £124k-a-month playmaker.
Multiple clubs are monitoring El Ghazi’s situation at Villa Park and are willing to sign the 26-year-old in cut-price deals. His contract with the Birmingham outfit expires in 2023, making next year Aston Villa’s best chance at a modest sum.
However, Aston Villa will not sanction any mid-season transfers for El Ghazi until Bertrand Traore returns from representing Burkina Faso. The 57-cap international will miss some, if not all, of January while competing at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Should Aston Villa sell El Ghazi in a mid-season transfer?
El Ghazi played a key role in Aston Villa’s promotion to the Premier League with 31 outings in the 2018/19 Championship campaign. His efforts convinced the Villans to pay Lille £8m to purchase the two-cap forward. And he remained vital for Smith with 34 games in ‘19/20.
But the Barendrecht-native lost his way last term with 17 starts over 28 appearances in the top-flight. And El Ghazi has been unable to maintain an important role in Smith’s plans this season, despite opening the campaign with three-straight starts in Aston Villa’s fixtures.
Smith knows what El Ghazi can offer Aston Villa, but the winger must show more to avoid a mid-season transfer. The Villans manager said, via the club’s website in March: “When he’s confident, he looks like one hell of a player.”
Smith also said of El Ghazi last December: “Whenever he’s stepped up, he’s played well. He’s a top player, we know that, [he’s] one of the major reasons we’re in this league.”
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