---
title: "Aston Villa should consider James McCarthy to replace midfield outcasts"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/01/james-mccarthy-aston-villa-transfer-rumours-nakamba-lansbury-replacement/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2020-12-01T16:00:31Z"
modified: "2020-12-01T16:00:31Z"
---

# Aston Villa should consider James McCarthy to replace midfield outcasts

Recently, [TEAMtalk](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/exclusive-celtic-january-contract-offer-james-mccarthy) linked Aston Villa with a move for [James McCarthy](https://readcrystalpalace.com/2020/11/30/james-mccarthy-transfer-interest-burnley-aston-villa-celtic/), suggesting they would have to battle Celtic and Burnley for his signature.

Dean Smith has given John McGinn, Ross Barkley, Douglas Luiz and Conor Hourihane [regular playing time](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/leistungsdaten/verein/405) in midfield this season but could benefit from replacing Marvelous Nakamba and Henri Lansbury, who are both surplus to requirements.

McCarthy has made [40 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mccarthy/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/45333) in all competitions for Crystal Palace since [joining](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mccarthy/transfers/spieler/45333) the Eagles from Everton in August 2019.

He has been a regular for Roy Hodgson’s side this season, making [five Premier League appearances](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/31281/Show/James-McCarthy), winning six aerial duels, blocking six shots/passes, making seven clearances and averaging either a tackle (11) or interception (five) every 21 minutes.

The Republic of Ireland international has won more tackles than McGinn ([seven](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Show/England-Aston-Villa)) and Luiz ([eight](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Show/England-Aston-Villa)), so he could be a useful addition if he ends up at Villa Park.

### READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT

McCarthy’s market value is £4.05m with [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mccarthy/marktwertverlauf/spieler/45333) and €2m-€4m (£1.8m-£3.6m) with [CIES Football Observatory](https://football-observatory.com/-values-16596), so he shouldn’t break the bank. It just remains to be seen whether the Villans will make a move in January.

Lansbury hasn’t made a single appearance in the Premier League this season while Nakamba has only amassed 13 top-flight minutes ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/leistungsdaten/verein/405/plus/0?reldata=GB1%262020)), so the pair will need replacing sooner rather than later.

***In other news, some Villa fans [criticised one player](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/01/villa-fans-slam-trezeguet-miss-west-ham/) after his “embarrassing” moment in Monday’s defeat to West Ham.***