Aston Villa are now set to sell Calum Chambers at the end of the season. West Ham United had explored the transfer of the centre-half to the London Stadium in the January window.
That is according to Birmingham Live, which expects Unai Emery to let Chambers move on in the summer. The 28-year-old has struggled to seal regular game time since the Spaniard replaced Steven Gerrard in charge. So, the Villans are now unlikely to block his route away.
Chambers leaving Aston Villa would also free Emery to sign a new centre-back more to his liking. The Villa Park boss would hope to replace the three-cap England international with a defender who would push Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos to find greater levels.
Gerrard only took Chambers to Aston Villa in January 2022 in a free transfer from Arsenal. He also awarded the defender a three-and-a-half year, £50k-a-week contract through until June 2025. Yet Chambers has only played 19 fixtures in claret-and-blue in all competitions.
Just eight of Chambers’ appearances for Aston Villa have also come so far this season with five in the Premier League. He has also only featured four times and twice in the top-flight since Emery took charge. The Spaniard has even only started Chambers once in the league.
Aston Villa to give West Ham another chance to target Chambers’ transfer
Aston Villa now selling Chambers at the end of this season could give David Moyes another chance to target his transfer with West Ham. Dean Jones reported in January that the Irons manager had eyes on the Petersfield-born enforcer to strengthen his options at right-back.
The Daily Mail also cited Chambers as a target for West Ham but noted that Moyes sought his transfer from Aston Villa for cover at centre-half. He can play in either defensive role or as a holding midfielder. But his efforts in either role have not convinced Emery of his skills.
The Mirror even reported in January that Emery had given Aston Villa his go-ahead to grant Chambers a transfer. Yet he would then start the defender at Manchester City in a 3-1 loss in February. A ‘small’ injury meant Mings sat out the Villans’ defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
But Emery immediately recalled Mings and dropped Chambers back to the bench. So, the Villa boss is now prepared to boot the defender Gerrard called ‘absolutely class’ again. He also sent Chambers out on loan to Fulham whilst Arsenal manager for the 2018/19 season.
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