The 32-year-old centre-back would be a surprise addition at Aston Villa – though he may be required.
After completing his summer move from Bournemouth, Tommy Elphick appeared to be the rarest of commodities at Aston Villa – a shrewd signing, almost guaranteeing success.
The centre-back was hardly short on Championship experience, having spearheaded Bournemouth’s promotion push two seasons earlier, and had worn the captain’s armband with pride at the Vitality Stadium. Therefore, he looked a perfect addition to a squad lacking in leaders and lower league nous.
Just over half a season later, however, reports in the Daily Mail that Aston Villa have taken Christopher Samba, yes that Christopher Samba, on trial suggests that things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Elphick in the Midlands.
Handed the captaincy at the start of the season, the 29-year-old soon lost his place, and the armband to James Chester while Nathan Baker’s impressive form prior to the festive period only raised the demands for Elphick to be removed from the side permanently.
In fact, as reported by the Birmingham Mail, Elphick was even linked with a premature exit in January and, although he remains at Villa Park and has featured heavily in recent matches, the news that free-agent Samba is being taken under consideration only highlights Steve Bruce’s concerns about the quality at his disposal.
The 32-year-old centre-back, who famously flopped at QPR after arriving in January 2013 for £12.5 million and £100,000-a-week as reported by the BBC, has played just six games in the last two seasons.
Though the fact that a number of Villa fans are welcoming him with open arms speaks volumes about Elphick’s performances to date.
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