Aston Villa may poach Newcastle central defender Grant Hanley for a cool £4 million. Hanley, a Scotland international, fell out of favor with Toons manager Rafa Benitez.
Scotland center back Grant Hanley may choose to decline life in the Premier League just one month after claiming a Championship winner’s medal. Hanley made just ten appearances at Newcastle after falling behind captain Jamaal Lascelles and former Villa man, Ciaran Clark (we miss you, Ciaran).
Prior to Newcastle, Hanley was a Blackburn Rovers lifer.
Grant Hanley actually made his Premier League debut against Aston Villa in May of 2010. Hanley, now 25, made his first appearance for Scotland just one year later while Blackburn was still in England’s top flight.
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A couple years pass and Hanley followed Blackburn down to the Premier League. He quickly established himself as a consistent, dependable central defender approaching the peak of his career.
His total Blackburn appearances ended at 200 matches exactly.
No doubt this is what Rafa Benitez saw in Hanley as newly-relegated Newcastle United looked for Championship experience.
Grant Hanley turns 26 in November and stands comfortably at 6’2″. He scored more than two goals in a season just once five years ago. Therefore, he’s not dominant in the air given production and size/strength measurements.
During his limited time with Newcastle last year, Hanley completed 81% of his passes, citing some competence with the ball at his feet.
The Birmingham Mail ran a small piece discussing Grant Hanley’s strengths and weaknesses.
Hanley seems indifferent when it comes to several qualities, chief among them pace. With Paul Dummett, Chancel Mbemba, Ciaran Clark, and club captain Jamaal Lascelles occupying places in central defense, playing opportunities will be hard to come by for the defender.
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Grant Hanley seems like a direct replacement to Tommy Elphick, as the two share numerous characteristics together. Both are right-footed, relatively slow and shorter central defenders who rely on defensive technique to overcome lesser athleticism.
Hanley, however, is four years younger and appeals to Villa boss Steve Bruce. Both Derby County and Wolves are interested in acquiring the Scot’s talents well.