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Scouting Aston Villa transfer target: Joe Ledley

By Josh Tonti

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Dider N'dong of Sunderland (L) and Joe Ledley of Crystal Palace (R) battle for possession during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Sunderland at Selhurst Park on February 4, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Dider N'dong of Sunderland (L) and Joe Ledley of Crystal Palace (R) battle for possession during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Sunderland at Selhurst Park on February 4, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images) /
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Crystal Palace stalwart midfielder Joe Ledley is leaving the club after four years. The Wales international played a vital role in his country’s run to the semi-finals at Euro 2016. Is Joe Ledley the ideal man to compete with fellow bearded wonder, Mile Jedinak?

Crystal Palace released Joe Ledley after a nearly four-year stay in London. Now, Ledley, 30, is available on a free transfer and a host of clubs are chasing him.

Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, and Derby County are said to be “weighing up” moves for the Wales international.

Ledley is an all-action midfielder who played in a variety of roles over his career for both club and country. He began as a winger before moving to central midfield – often alternating between a number six role with Wales and a number eight role with Crystal Palace.

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Attached is a Squawka comparison matrix between Mile Jedinak, Joe Ledley, and fellow transfer target, Glenn Whelan.

Whelan offered by far the most going forward, while Jedinak proved his defensive worth. Where Ledley fell, however, is interesting. Aside from pass completion percentage, Ledley struggled in every category.

Probably not a coincidence either, that Crystal Palace released the player after a poor season. He only recently turned 30 in January too, so it’s not as if he’s falling off a cliff due to age.

Perhaps this is the beginning of a decline. Or perhaps it was just a singular poor season in which the club as a whole struggled. Aston Villa saw this plight before: where average players struggle mightily while at a sinking club.

Ledley still has the mobility to play alongside Mile Jedinak, but more importantly, he can play in his place too.

With Wales, Ledley sits just behind all-action midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen. Should Aston Villa sign Joe Ledley, that gives them three players within Chris Coleman’s preferred Wales starting eleven: James Chester, Neil Taylor, and Joe Ledley.

For a free transfer, Aston Villa can do no better than hitting one of their needs with a proven international footballer.

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