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There are a handful of players who have become surplus to requirements at Aston Villa in recent seasons – so what’s next for these players?
Words: Regan Foy | @findfoy
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In recent weeks fans have watched as players deemed surplus to requirements have left Aston Villa, including former record signing Wesley Moraes – who joined Sky Bet Championship side Stoke City for a reported £5,000,000 fee – while the battling Marvelous Nakamba rejoined Luton Town permanently after a successful six-month loan spell last season.
Morgan Sanson, who has been proverbially outcast pretty much since his arrival at the club, also. headed out on another loan back to France, this time with the option to make the deal permanent if he sufficiently impresses.
There still remains a handful of players who it seems have no role to play under Unai Emery, despite certain members of the outcasts playing as recently as the last few games of the previous season. What is to come of their Aston Villa careers?
Kortney Hause
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28-year-old centre-back Kortney Hause hasn’t played more than ten minutes for Aston Villa since the 15th of January 2022 under former manager Steven Gerrard, where the defender played a half of football in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
In fact, he’s only managed 190 minutes of football since then – joining Watford on a season-long loan last summer and playing in three games before being sent back to Bodymoor Heath to recover from a knee injury.
Under contract until 2025, Hause has not been visible across the club’s various platforms this pre-season and it remains to be seen whether the defender is still struggling with injury.
The defender has been a suitable back-up for Tyrone Mings during his time at the club, but the evolution of Aston Villa’s defence means that the former England U21 International is possibly not even sixth choice currently.
There was reported interest from West Bromwich Albion earlier in the window, but Aston Villa’s midlands rivals are wary of Hause’s injury record and can’t afford to make mistakes with their business this summer in their current financial state. After previously being linked to West Ham United just 18-months ago, it’s likely a drop to the Championship if anything at all for Hause.
Keinan Davis
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Keinan Davis is another player who spent time at Watford last season, albeit with much different results. The 25-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of this season, enjoyed a somewhat successful spell at The Hornets last season, after a successful half-season spell at Nottingham Forest the season before.
Davis’ last appearance for Aston Villa was almost two years ago, in November 2021 as the forward came on for an 11-minute cameo as the Villans fell to a defeat against Southampton.
Seven goal involvements in 15 league appearances at Forest, before nine involvements in 34 appearances at Watford haven’t been enough for either side to make the deal a permanent one, and much like Hause, Davis hasn’t been visible during pre-season for Aston Villa.
Keinan Davis has been linked to numerous Sky Bet Championship clubs this summer, including the likes of Swansea City, but moves abroad have also been touted. Premier League new boys Luton Town have also been linked with a move for Davis – who has never occupied a starting berth at Villa.
It is rumoured that the Villans are looking for a £7,000,000 fee for Davis.
Bertrand Traore
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Bertrand Traore is the odd player out in this list, as he has made appearances during the current regime under Unai Emery. He’s provided quite the array of memories for fans, and most recently scored that wonder-goal against Leicester City that left fans calling for further involvement.
A thigh injury picked up during off-season International fixtures has kept him out during pre-season, but with the arrival of Moussa Diaby, the emergence of Jaden Philogene-Bidace as a bonafide member of the senior squad, and Leon Bailey vying for involvement, the Burkinabe winger could be shown the door this summer.
There is potential for a return to Turkey following last season’s loan to Istanbul Basaksehir, with reports in Turkey stating that newly promoted Samsunspor could be looking to bolster their squad with Traore.
With minutes potentially hard to come by this season, and the club reportedly open to offers for the enigmatic winger, we could see him depart before the end of the window.
Aston Villa Youngsters
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While Philogene-Bidace is set for first team involvement this season, the squad’s continual improvement has meant that opportunities for other youngsters is going to be limited.
Jacob’s younger brother Aaron and Tim Iroegbunam were touted for regular involvement this pre-season, but injuries to both have seen pre-season involvement limited. Iroegnunam was left at home to recover during the USA tour, while Ramsey travelled but picked up a knock.
20-year-old Ramsey is reportedly close to joining Premier League returnees Burnley in a £12,000,000 deal that could see a buy-back option included, while Iroegbunam has been linked with a return to Queens Park Rangers after a successful loan spell last season, as well as a possible move to Rangers under Michael Beale.
Caleb Chukwuemeka, the 21-year-old brother of Chelsea’s Carney Chukwuemeka, may also be shown the door this summer after a number of disappointing loan spells to Livingston and Crawley respectively.
