Aston Villa’s Tommy Elphick has been linked with a move away from the Championship side in recent times, with Leeds, Sunderland and Birmingham all keen.
Steve Bruce has, perhaps surprisingly, suggested that if Tommy Elphick cannot find another club this summer, he would be delighted to have him be a part of his Aston Villa squad, the Birmingham Mail reports.
Elphick endured a difficult first season at Villa Park, and the Birmingham Mail reported at the end of last month that he is available to leave the Villans if a suitable bid comes in.
Tommy Elphick
The Mail suggests that Championship trio Sunderland, Birmingham City and Leeds United are all keen on the former Bournemouth skipper. But in an interesting twist, Bruce has admitted that he would be extremely pleased to keep hold of the 29-year-old beyond the window.
“If nothing does [develop in the transfer market] I will be delighted to have Tommy around. He is a good pro who still has something to offer,” he said, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
In fairness, with John Terry, James Chester and Christopher Samba also vying for a centre-back spot in Bruce’s team, there surely appears to be no harm for Villa’s chances of success if Elphick stays and provides cover for those three as he could certainly contribute even if his form during his first season left fans underwhelmed.
Of course, Bruce’s desire to avoid breaching Financial Fair Play regulations, as reported by the Mail, probably means that he would not mind seeing the 29-year-old move on, especially if he wants some funds to pursue potential targets.
But perhaps Elphick may be feeling that his latest comments hint that there is still a chance for the defender to salvage his career at Villa Park.
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