---
title: "Conor Hourihane could leave Aston Villa in January"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/01/16/conor-hourihane-could-leave-aston-villa-in-january/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-01-16T08:30:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-16T08:30:57Z"
---

# Conor Hourihane could leave Aston Villa in January

[Conor Hourihane](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/14/dean-smith-admits-conor-hourihane-omission-was-harsh/) has an uncertain future at Aston Villa as he is no longer commanding a starting place under Dean Smith and might [want more first team football](https://www.the42.ie/aston-villa-boss-on-conor-hourihanes-goalscoring-return-4906257-Nov2019/) than he is currently being offered.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes he might be loaned out in January, [tweeting](https://twitter.com/SportsPeteO/status/1349644213382770689?s=20): “Aston Villa are considering letting Conor Hourihane leave on loan this month amid interest from a number of clubs.”

> Aston Villa are considering letting Conor Hourihane leave on loan this month amid interest from a number of clubs. [#avfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/avfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Pete O'Rourke (@SportsPeteO) [January 14, 2021](https://twitter.com/SportsPeteO/status/1349644213382770689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The 29-year-old has only made five appearances from a possible 19 this season, amassing 240 minutes of football from 1,710 ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/conor-hourihane/leistungsdaten/spieler/61653)). He finds himself behind John McGinn, Douglas Luiz and Ross Barkley in the [pecking order](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/ausfallzeiten/verein/405) and has been [overlooked in favour of Jacob Ramsey](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/14/dean-smith-admits-conor-hourihane-omission-was-harsh/) at times, too.

Hourihane isn’t one of the first names on the team sheet anymore, but he is still important to Smith in a backup role, having been [named in every Premier League matchday squad](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/conor-hourihane/leistungsdaten/spieler/61653) this term. As a result, he may not be granted a departure unless a replacement can be brought in.

Inter Milan’s [Matias Vecino](https://www.calciomercato.com/news/inter-un-anno-fa-un-mercato-da-premier-un-errore-da-non-ripetere-36120), Sogndal IL’s [Sivert Mannsverk](https://www.lalaziosiamonoi.it/voci-di-mercato/calciomercato-lazio-occhi-in-norvegia-nel-mirino-c-e-mannsverk-135901), Reading’s [Michael Olise](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-brooks-23289534) and Inter Milan’s [Christian Eriksen](https://sportwitness.co.uk/aston-villa-join-west-ham-chase-big-name-playmaker-enquiries-conducted-intermediaries/) have been mentioned as potential targets, but Villa are no closer to signing any of them.

Smith may not be that desperate to part company with Hourihane. The manager [has previously said](https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2019/03/06/dean-smith-on-conor-hourihane) that the Republic of Ireland international is “well-respected” in the dressing room and has “abilities” which can go unnoticed, so it makes little sense to let an important player leave midway through the season if he’s not clamouring for a departure.

### **READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT**

Villa [don’t have huge depth](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/kadernachposition/verein/405) in midfield, so Hourihane may need to stay.

Smith has already [played down](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2020/12/23/dean-smith-expecting-quiet-january-transfer-window-for-aston-villa/) the prospect of January departures too, so it would be strange to sanction an exit for the 29-year-old without somebody coming in to take his place.