Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Young has rejected a late January transfer to Newcastle United in favour of staying and fighting for his place under Steven Gerrard, according to the Mirror.
The Magpies and relegation rivals Watford under new boss Roy Hodgson had explored last-ditch moves for the 36-year-old this month. But Young has informed Gerrard that he has no interest in leaving Villa Park ahead of next Monday’s transfer deadline.
Gerrard also wants to keep Young, who is out of contract at the end of the season. The Villa boss values the midfielder’s professionalism and ability to play on either side of the defence or higher up. He also considers Young to be a de-facto captain with skipper Tyrone Mings.
Nonetheless, Newcastle and Watford explored transfers to prise Young from Aston Villa and add his experience to their relegation-threatened squads. But their advances proved to be in vain, as the former England international has now elected to stay put.
Young’s chances of featuring at Villa Park took a dent after Lucas Digne’s £25m arrival from Everton earlier this month. He has made four of his 12 Premier League outings so far this season at left-back to five in central midfield, two on the left-wing and one at right-back.
Newcastle miss out on free transfer for Aston Villa’s Ashley Young
Reports by TEAMtalk earlier this week cited Newcastle, Watford and Norwich City’s interest in a transfer for Aston Villa’s Young. They also claimed Gerrard would not stand in the way if he sought a move away from Villa Park.
A deal for Young may even have been free, on the provision that any suitor covered the final five-months of his £50k-a-week contract. The 39-cap Three Lions veteran penned a one-year deal upon joining in a free transfer last summer.
But Hodgson and Eddie Howe will have to look elsewhere to get a versatile and experienced player like Gerrard’s. Young has also proven he can still contribute creatively, after offering an assist in each of Gerrard’s first two games at Villa Park.
Young drove forward with the ball to find Ollie Watkins and open Gerrard’s Villans career with a win in November. Gerrard was also quick to praise the one-time Premier League winner with Manchester United after the game.
“I know Ashley extremely well, and he’s been absolutely outstanding since we walked through the door,” he said, via Birmingham Live. “Not just on the training pitch, but his leadership and standard-setting. We see players like him as an outer-layer of the staff.”
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