Ross Barkley could be instantly ousted by Morgan Sanson [Opinion]

Aston Villa signed Morgan Sanson on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Marseille this week and Dean Smith has a dilemma on where he’ll play given how settled the starting XI has been.

Douglas Luiz, John McGinn and Ross Barkley have made up a midfield triangle for Villa this season, but Barkley might be fearful of losing his spot to Sanson as he has not been at his best of late.

The 27-year-old has scored two goals and supplied one assist in nine Premier League games this season, but he has not scored in his last seven outings and hasn’t made an assist in his previous four (Transfermarkt).

Since returning from injury this month, Barkley has made just one dribble, has failed to win a tackle and only has one interception to his name, so he’s probably not match-fit – evident from Smith hooking him in each of his last three games. Indeed, he has not scored or won a tackle since October. [WhoScored]

Sanson is a central midfielder rather than an attacking midfielder like Barkley, but his inclusion shouldn’t deprive Villa of creativity. The 26-year-old has scored two goals and set up three goals in 10 Ligue 1 starts this season, with 13 key passes and 11 shots to his name (WhoScored).

McGinn is Villa’s third most creative player with 21 key passes, has the second-most successful dribbles (24), and has had a hand in five goals from 17 league games this term (WhoScored), so Smith can now allow him to push higher up the pitch while using Luiz in a holding role.

When Sanson is deemed fit enough to start, he might come straight into the Aston Villa midfield at the expense of Barkley, who has struggled to recapture his form since returning from injury.