Aston Villa are overstocked in midfield with Douglas Luiz, Marvelous Nakamba, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Sanson on the books, but Luiz has been linked with a move away, Nakamba may not command a starting place next season and Sanson is surplus to requirements, so Steven Gerrard could bring in at least one new midfielder this summer.
Villa have been linked with Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma and Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips, but Alan Hutton believes Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should be considered. The 28-year-old is out of contract in 2023 and may not be handed a new deal, so his future at Anfield is up in the air.
Liverpool will have to cash in this summer or they risk losing Oxlade-Chamberlain for nothing next year, so Hutton says Villa should capitalise on the situation. He told Football Insider: “It’s difficult because you want to stay at a club like Liverpool. You’re challenging for all these trophies, but you want to also play your part. If that’s not happening, it’s possibly time to move elsewhere.
The England international has made 133 appearances in all competitions since joining Liverpool from Arsenal in 2017, but he’s not commanding a starting place anymore. Oxlade-Chamberlain has amassed only 787 minutes of Premier League football, spending most of the campaign as an unused substitute or out of the matchday squad.
The 28-year-old’s injury history might put off a lot of clubs making a move, however, as Oxlade-Chamberlain made two league appearances in 2018/19, 13 league appearances in 2020/21 and has 17 league appearances to his name in 2021/22.
Hutton added: “Aston Villa are building for the future. They’re building something special as well and why would you not want to be part of that? He could be an integral cog for one of these teams moving forward. He’s still got a lot to give, plenty of time. The only question mark is the injuries.
“That can happen with all the stop-start, it’s difficult to get a run going. any of those teams we’ve mentioned I think would jump at the chance of bringing someone of his quality through the door.”
Villa are expected to sign a defensive-midfielder this summer, but Oxlade-Chamberlain may not be the player they go for.
In other news, Alan Hutton says ‘talented’ Philippe Coutinho will ‘raise the standard’
