Spare a thought for Frederic Guilbert. The 27-year-old has spent more than three years at Aston Villa but has been on the periphery since his debut campaign. He was hoping to move on this summer, but a deal failed to materialise with a suitor and now the transfer window is shut until January.
Guilbert spent last season on loan at Racing Strasbourg and was happy being back in France, but he was only there temporarily. The right-back had to return to Bodymoor Heath this summer and appeared keen to challenge for a starting place until Steven Gerrard gave Kaine Kesler Hayden more opportunities in pre-season.
Matty Cash and Ashley Young were then preferred in the squad when the season began, so Guilbert is yet to make an appearance this campaign and hasn’t made the matchday squad once either. His only option is to terminate his contract earlier or wait until the winter transfer window opens.
Guilbert has made 32 appearances in all competitions for Villa, scoring three goals with three assists, but he’s made just three appearances since the 2019/20 campaign, so the writing has been on the wall for some time.
Young’s performance in Villa’s 1-1 draw with Man City showed Gerrard that he’s an able deputy for Matt Cash, so Guilbert isn’t needed as right-back cover.
