Steven Gerrard is keen on signing Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, but the 22-year-old would be the eighth midfielder on the books if Aston Villa won the race for his signature – Douglas Luiz, Marvelous Nakamba, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Sanson, Carney Chukwuemeka, Tim Iroegbunam.
So one or two departures are expected this summer and Noel Whelan believes Emiliano Buendia could be axed to make way for a Gallagher-type signing, likely because the 25-year-old flattered to deceive in his debut season.
He told Football Insider: “They’ve got a lot of midfield players. Something’s going to have to give (as) there are only few positions. (Gallagher) would be a good buy, he’s forced his way into the England reckoning and has a wise head of shoulders.
“Gallagher is quite an attacking player as well. If he does come into Aston Villa, there’s got to be a sale on the cards. Whether that be Buendia or somebody else. If one comes in, then as long as someone goes out it could work.”
Buendia joined Villa on a five-year deal from Norwich City last summer and has gone on to make 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals with six assists. The Argentine international had moments of magic on the pitch, but he was disappointing overall and nothing like the player that set the Championship alight in 2020/21 – 15 goals and 17 assists from 39 league games.
But even if Gerrard would prefer Gallagher over the 25-year-old, selling Buendia won’t come easy. Villa paid £34.6m for the playmaker and agreed a contract worth £75k-per-week/£3.9m-a-year, so suitors might be put off making a move.
Gerrard may have still have use for Buendia if a sale doesn’t come off, having played him in all but one Premier League games since replacing Dean Smith as manager, so it’s not the end of the world if he stays.
Gallagher could still join with another underperforming Villa player offloaded in his stead – Douglas Luiz perhaps.
In other news, Kevin Campbell says Douglas Luiz could be axed by Gerrard
