Stoke City’s Moritz Bauer was linked with Aston Villa during the January transfer window.
According to a report in the Stoke Sentinel, Stoke City’s Moritz Bauer is ready to quit the club in the summer after struggling for game-time under new manager Nathan Jones.
The Austria international fullback was seemingly set to leave the club in January after being left out by then-boss Gary Rowett, with the Birmingham Mail citing both Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers as suitors.
Villa are short of right-back options and Bauer had impressed during Stoke’s spell in the Premier League. However, Jones’ arrival as Stoke’s new manager gave the defender a fresh start at the Bet365 Stadium.
But, after starting in two of Stoke’s first three matches under Jones’s guidance, Bauer has since been left out with youngster Tom Edwards preferred in his place.
The Potters initially shelled out £5 million for Bauer (Daily Mail), but a succession of managerial changes and relegation from the Premier League have not helped the player’s cause and he now cuts a frustrated figure at the club.
The report goes on to say that Bauer would consider other options in England as well as abroad, while the Potters are looking to cut the squad and wage bill in order to start afresh under Jones.
Villa may decide to go back in for him again this summer providing they miss out on promotion to the top flight, with Ahmed El Mohamady currently utilised as a right-back to fill the void at Villa Park.
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