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Aston Villa Roundup: Veretout Leaves, Others Linked

By Josh Tonti

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: Jordan Veretout of Aston Villa during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Vila Park on January 16, 2016 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: Jordan Veretout of Aston Villa during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Vila Park on January 16, 2016 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images) /
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After a tumultuous season in English football, Jordan Veretout departs Aston Villa on a year-long loan to French side Saint-Étienne.

Roberto Di Matteo unsurprisingly found Jordan Veretout as surplus in central midfield. As such, the twenty-three year old moved on-loan away from Villa Park after twenty-nine appearances in all competitions last season.

Veretout should see ample opportunity to regain his form in France. The £7 million pound man, who moved to Villa after a lifetime in the Nantes Academy, was highly sought after just twelve months ago.

While immensely talented, Veretout sits as a bit of a ‘tweener. He is not quite incisive enough to play as a number ten, nor destructive enough to operate as a number six. Curiously, Di Matteo found no use for Veretout with certain question marks hovering over the other central midfielders: Westwood, Jedinak, Gardner, and Tshibola.

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In other Villa news, West Ham United rejected a £12 million pound move for Enner Valencia. The Ecuadorian striker is wanted by owner Tony Xia and company in order to boost their goal scoring exploits. Valencia has thus far disappointed in Premier League action, but his record for the Ecuadorian National Team speaks for itself–sixteen goals in twenty-nine appearances. It should be noted that Valencia is also capable of playing out wide; something Aston Villa lack sorely.

A move for Hull City’s Abel Hernandez continues to work itself out as, once again, owner Tony Xia voices his opinion over the matter:

Perhaps this cryptic tweet even referred to Enner Valencia. Though, Abel Hernandez is probably the more talented of the two players.

Adding a “world class” striker such as Abel Hernandez (not sure he actually constitutes as world class, but whatever) would definitely improve Aston Villa’s attack, but the same problems still remain. Hernandez, McCormack, Ayew, Gestede, and Grealish all can’t fit on the pitch together at the same time.

The need for a true two-footed wing player is a must.

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