Five Premier League replacements for Fabian Delph at Aston Villa
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Fabian Delph’s shock £8m switch to Manchester City has caused a considerable amount of uproar among fans, though the club simply has to move on. Having stated that he was going to stay at Villa Park, he then made an unexpected u-turn and promptly signed for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
The reversal in his decision to stay at the club could have been motivated by Christian Benteke’s anticipated transfer to Liverpool and the fact that Villa, 4/1 for a top 10 Premier League finish next term, may have made assurances about the Belgian staying.
As a result of one of their lynchpins leaving, Coral review five potential replacements who Tim Sherwood could consider, with the manager likely to have considerable cash to reinvest.
Tom Carroll
Sherwood knows the 23-year-old midfielder and is a big fan having worked with him at Spurs. He could well be the manager to bring the best out of him, with the player showing plenty of potential, though his spells at Swansea City and QPR on loan were relatively unsuccessful. He has just one year left on his contract at White Hart Lane and could be available for as little as £2m this summer.
Nick Powell
The Manchester United youngster has shown promise since his arrival at Old Trafford, though has been consistently loaned out. Stability could be exactly what the player needs and Sherwood has a good reputation for working with youngsters and helping them realise their potential, so a permanent switch to Villa may be an astute decision.
Steven Davis
A move back to the club where he started his career, the Southampton midfielder may decide it is time to move on if the Saints pursue another midfielder. Should Sherwood test the Saints resolve, he might be pleasantly surprised and Davis does have ties with the Midlands outfit.
Jordon Mutch
With the arrival of Yohan Cabaye at Crystal Palace, the Eagles have a plethora of midfielders, which means the former Watford player may be tempted if offered the chance to become the main man at Villa Park. Likely to cost between £5m and £8m, he is certainly a more than capable replacement for Delph.
Jordan Rossiter
A youngster with plenty of potential, he will find his chances limited at Liverpool, who may let him leave at least on loan for a season. At just 18, he would add more depth to the Villa midfield, though again, Sherwood may know exactly what to do to help his game.
