Ahmed Elmohamady is unlikely to get a new contract at Aston Villa with Strasbourg-loanee Frederic Guilbert expected to return to the club ahead of next season, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
33-year-old Elmohamady proved during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Wolves that there is still life in the old dog, keeping Adama Traore at arms’ length with an impressive display of defensive discipline.
But a solid performance against one of the Premier League’s fastest wide men won’t be enough to extend Elmohamady’s four-season spell at Villa Park.
The former Hull City and Sunderland right-back is out of contract in July.
And, according to the Birmingham Mail, Villa are planning to hand Guilbert a second chance rather than keep Elmohamady around for another year.
Guilbert was Dean Smith’s first-choice right-back throughout 2019/20.
But the buccaneering Frenchman fell out of favour following the inspired addition of Matty Cash last summer, joining Strasbourg on loan in January in search of more regular game-time.
“I had a difficult last six months at Aston Villa. I was training but I was still on the bench. I had only one desire, and that was to get on the field,” Guilbert told La Presse de la Manche.
“At Strasbourg I have the opportunity to play so I want to show what I’m capable of.”
Guilbert has certainly done just that.
In four Ligue 1 games, the former Caen flyer has already produced one goal and two assists, scoring the winner against title-chasing Monaco last week.
And it looks for all the world that it will be Guilbert, rather than Elmohamady, battling Cash for a place in Smith’s first XI next season.
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