The 25-year-old midfielder has been one of Villa’s most reliable performers since arriving from boyhood club Crewe in August 2012.
Midfielder Ashley Westwood is set to be rewarded for his consistency at Aston Villa with a new long-term contract, according to the Birmingham Mail.
Westwood, 25, joined Villa from League One side Crewe Alexandra in August 2012 for around £900,000 plus add-ons and has since made 103 total appearances for the club, while recording three goals and 10 assists.
While he has received few headlines during his time at Villa Park, his consistent performances prompted former manager Paul Lambert to tip him for an England call-up last season, while successor Tim Sherwood has also compared his no-nonsense approach to that of Manchester United’s Michael Carrick since arriving at the club.
“Ashley is definitely my cup of tea. He’s the sort of footballer I like,” Sherwood told the club’s official website during last season’s run-in. “He’s not going to score you a bag full of goals but if you analyse him, he passes the ball forward more than most.
“He slides it in between the midfield and gets the No.10 on the ball. He passes it quick and the commentator does not have time to say his name. That’s what I like.
“He’s the Michael Carrick mould of a player and I think he can get better. I’m certainly happy with what he’s doing. He’s one of my favourite players.”
| Premier League | Season | Goals | Assists | Total Key Passes | Total Passes GAME | Passing Accuracy | Total Tackles GAME | Interceptions GAME | Touches GAME | Appearances | Mins Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley Westwood | 2014-2015 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 49.07 | 84% | 1.22 | 1.48 | 61.78 | 27 | 2,152 |
| Ashley Westwood | 2013-2014 | 3 | 2 | 65 | 46.51 | 83% | 1.6 | 1.37 | 58.91 | 35 | 3,081 |
| Ashley Westwood | 2012-2013 | 0 | 6 | 33 | 44.53 | 85% | 1.73 | 2.37 | 56.2 | 30 | 2,462 |
After playing 450 minutes in pre-season – 30 more than any other Villa player, Westwood started the weekend’s Premier League opener at Bournemouth and now looks set to take on a vital role in Sherwood’s side moving forward as the anchorman in front of the back four.
The former Crewe skipper’s current contract is not set to expire until 2017 but, after seeing both Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke depart this summer, the club are keen to tie down their prized assets to fresh terms.
Homegrown defenders Nathan Baker and Ciaran Clark both agreed new deals earlier this month and now their fellow Englishman looks set to follow them in committing his long-term future to the claret and blues.
He may not be the team’s flashiest player but, for how Sherwood’s side lines up, he certainly provides a great deal of value in his holding role.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
