Frederic Guilbert admits he is yet to talk with Unai Emery and expects to leave Premier League outfit Aston Villa after being placed ‘on the market’, speaking to Alsa Sports.
If the £5 million signing from SM Caen was hoping that the departure of Steven Gerrard would kick-start his claret-and-blue career… well, lets just say that, while the identity of those in the Villa Park dugout has changed, Guilbert’s circumstaces have not.
Nearly two months following Emery’s arrival, the seldom-seen right-back is still training with the reserves at Bodymoor Heath. An unsustainable situation, as far as Guilbert is concerned.
Frederic Guilbert hoping to leave Aston Villa in 2023
“When Steven Gerrard arrived, he told me I had two weeks to prove myself. (Then) I played barely 45 minutes in six or seven matches,” Guilbert explains.
“I made the decision to shut up and keep working. Because, if I yelled, it wouldn’t have changed anything. And now I’m looking to the future. With Unai Emery, I have never had a discussion.
“I can’t stay in this situation forever. We are studying the possibilities with my entourage; whether it is a loan with an option to buy or a straight transfer. The only certainty is that I have to have playing time at a club to revive myself. This is the most important thing for me.
“It’s no secret (that I’m available for transfer). For the moment, there is nothing, but I’m open to suggestions. I’m on the market. What matters to me is to play and find pleasure quickly.”
Guilbert has not made a single Premier League appearance for Aston Villa since the 2019/20 season. Once something of a cult hero among some supporters due to his swashbuckling, all-action style, the 27-year-old lost his starting spot to the excellent Matty Cash but did enjoy a terrific 18 month loan spell at Strasbourg from January 2021 to the summer of 2022.
“Yes of course,” Guilbert adds when asked if he’d be up for returning to Alsace. “Nothing bad has ever happened with that club (Strasbourg). I felt great there with my family. But it’s not me who decides. I am a football player and employed by a club.
“In any case, the door is not closed. We will see what happens in the future.”
Per L’Equipe, Aston Villa could accept just £2 million for Guilbert. The one-time Bordeaux youngster turned down a move to Fulham back in 2021.
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