Aston Villa have announced Kortney Hause has signed a new contract with the club running to 2025, denying reported suitors West Ham United a potential January transfer.
Hause was scheduled to be a free agent in June, as his previous deal with the Villa Park natives expired at the end of the season. But, according to Birmingham Live, boss Steven Gerrard played a key role in Aston Villa’s discussions with Hause over a new contract.
The centre-half has rarely featured since the Liverpool icon replaced Dean Smith at the Villans’ helm in November. But his direct communication with Hause ironed out any issues.
Gerrard pleased Hause with what he told the £3m ace in private, while also publicly calling for an extension. The Villans boss considers the 26-year-old an important part of his squad, and accepts he wants to play more often. Hause has only featured eight times this season.
Just two of the Redbridge-born defender’s six Premier League appearances so far this term have come under Gerrard, as well. He has featured in Aston Villa’s last two fixtures against Brentford and Manchester United. His previous outing came on October 31 under Smith.
Aston Villa to deny West Ham transfer with new Hause contract
Aston Villa have denied West Ham one of their potential January transfer targets by locking Hause into a new contract. Journalist Dean Jones told Give Me Sport that the Irons were tracking his situation closely and could have moved during the final week of the window.
Watford, likewise, admire Hause and explored his suitability for a switch earlier this month, according to the Daily Mail. The Hornets have the fourth-worst defensive record so far this season in the Premier League. They have conceded 37 goals over their 19 fixtures to date.
David Moyes and Claudio Ranieri may have felt they could offer Hause more games than Gerrard has so far. His displays in Birmingham would have been very welcome at Vicarage Road as Watford bid to avoid relegation. The Hornets are one-point above the drop zone.
Hause thrived for Aston Villa while scoring their winning goal at Manchester United earlier in the season. So much so that John McGinn told the Villans’ website he was a ‘monster’.
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