Should Aston Villa Grab Grabban Or Say Hello To Ulloa?
The transfer rumour mill is in full swing and Aston Villa have been linked with both Lewis Grabban and Leonardo Ulloa. Steve Bruce is desperate to recruit a striker in January who will score the goals to boost the promotion push.
The long-term injury to Jonathan Kodjia, the inconsistency of Scott Hogan and inexperience of Keinan Davis leaves Bruce with the need for an experienced goalscorer. There have been names such as Drexler from Holstein Kiel and Kastrati from Sandefjord, but only tried and tested will do for Aston Villa. Two candidates that fit the bill would be Sunderland’s Lewis Grabban (on loan from Bournemouth) or Leicester City’s Leonardo Ulloa.
Lewis Grabban
Rumours have been circulating for a while about Aston Villa’s interest in Lewis Grabban. Steve Bruce has rubbished these by saying “I have said for three months I am looking at loans. How can I be linked with Lewis Grabban? I haven’t got the money” (Daily Express). However, football is never as simple as that so ‘loan to buy’ options could tempt Bournemouth. They are reportedly contemplating recalling Grabban from his loan, at Sunderland, and selling him during the January transfer window.
The striker is having a good season; eleven goals from 18 appearances are driving Grabban’s value upwards. Eight of those eleven goals have been scored since October 21st. This is the fifth loan of his career as he looks to be moving onto yet another club. Whether he is the sort of striker that Bruce wants to sign is another matter. Perhaps his aerial ability, or lack of it, might be the major factor in Bruce’s disinterest.
Leonardo Ulloa
Leonardo Ulloa was part of Leicester City’s Premier League winning squad in 2015-16. Since then, he has become surplus to requirements at the King Power Stadium. Last season, he played 16 games with a solitary goal. This season, he has only featured in eight minutes of Premier League football. Relegated to the reserve football, Ulloa needs a move away.
His brand of South American/Spanish influenced football could gel well with the likes of Adomah, Snodgrass and Grealish. At 31 years of age, Ulloa is not a long-term option but promotion to the Premier League would require a squad upgrade at any rate. At this juncture, it seems that this move could suit both parties.
Villa need a striker who will fit in quickly, has the experience to help achieve promotion and scores goals. Bruce’s comments about Grabban certainly have a lot of truth about them. The FFP regulations are restricting Villa’s purchasing power in the transfer market. That doesn’t mean to say that good value can’t be achieved. Both Bournemouth and Leicester may well be tempted into an arrangement to move their players on.