Wesley Moraes Aston Villa future could be decided this week with the Premier League’s forgotten man speaking up about a potential return to Brazil with Palmeiras, as reported by ESPN.
It is nearly two years since Wesley last scored a goal in Villa colours.
Just 50 minutes after finding the net during a 2-1 victory over Burnley on New Years’ Day, the £22 million striker tumbled to the turf clutching his knee.
A cruelly-timed ACL injury would keep him out of action for 15 long months.
With Dean Smith gone and Steven Gerrard in, plus Ollie Watkins, Danny Ings and Cameron Archer competing for a place in the Aston Villa frontline these days, one wonders whether Wesley will ever play another league game in claret-and-blue.
The 25-year-old has struggled for game-time since returning to former employers Club Brugge on loan last summer.
His short-lived spell back at the Jan Breydel Stadium is set to come to an end ahead of schedule, however, with ESPN claiming that Wesley could be heading back to Brazil before the week is out.
Three of the biggest clubs in South America – Palmeiras, Sao Paulo and Internacional – are going head-to-head for the one-time Atletico Mineiro starlet.
And it seems that one of the aforementioned trio has captured Wesley’s imagination.
Will Wesley Moraes leave Aston Villa this week?
“Palmeiras is now the best team in South America,” Wesley said of a side who won the Copa Libertadores for the second season in a row last month.
“(They have) a European structure, they fight for titles and have a high-quality squad. Every player wants to play for organized clubs, winners with a structure.
“It would be really cool (to play for Palmeiras). And also a very big responsibility.”
Should Palmeiras win the race for his signature, Wesley could soon be going head-to-head with European champions Chelsea in February’s Club World Cup tournament.
“Chelsea are a team who values possession of the ball a lot. They have a lethal attack,” he adds.
“They play direct and concede few goals. In a match like this, the opportunity that the opponent has to score goals, they need to do it.”
That responsibility may just fall on Wesley’s shoulders.
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