Aston Villa appear to have already decided the long-term fate of a player this summer, with their Premier League rivals eyeing an ‘direct’ chance.
Aston Villa extra point against Chelsea after Wolves defeat
Villa can’t afford another slip-up and Wednesday night’s home game against Chelsea looks like a season-defining moment.
Unai Emery’s side were supposed to be title contenders just eight weeks ago. In January, they were exchanging blows with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, dreaming big and playing with a confidence that suggested something special was being built.
But football has a way of quickly humbling you.
Villa Hemorrhage are top of the table with one win from their last five league games, but last Friday’s 2-0 derby defeat to bottom-of-the-table Wolves at Molineux was as damaging as it was humiliating.
Before the final whistle, Emery was sprinting down the tunnel. Enough said.
The title is almost certainly gone. But qualifying for the Champions League, the minimum expectation at this stage of the season, is now also a real concern.
Villa sit fourth in the table, but Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all behind.
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It will be a blow for Unai Emery.
Wednesday’s defeat at Villa Park could certainly be damaging. The profit margins are very thin and there is no more to stake.
Chelsea themselves arrived in great form after Arsenal were held to a draw, giving Liam Rosenior’s side a chance to move even closer to the top four.
Villa need to get rid of their best player because they are not pushovers, they need a reaction from Wolves’ embarrassment and they need to do it quickly.
In such a high-pressure situation, news has emerged regarding Villa’s future plans and the message from the club has been very clear.
Aston Villa make Evan Guesand decision in Crystal Palace plans
Evan Guesand, 24, will not return to the first team at Villa Park next season after being loaned to Crystal Palace in January.
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Aston Villa are “adamant” that the Frenchman has no long-term future at the club, and Emery has no intention of changing that position.
The loan has come to an end and Palace are likely to move towards making the deal permanent, with both parties seemingly perfectly happy with the outcome.
It’s easy to see why Villa would let him go without a fight. Guesand never really forced his way into Emery’s plans during his time at the Midlands. With the club aiming for a top-four finish and a chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season, attacking options need to be at the highest level.
For Palace, the situation could not be more ‘simple’.
According to Football Insider, Selhurst Park bosses believe it is “natural” to make the deal permanent and expect it will be an easy task if Guesand maintains the form he has shown since his arrival.
Two goals in six games since January is a decent return and Oliver Glasner’s side will be keen to make progress on the signing.
Palace are already planning for life without Jean-Philippe Mateta, but Mateta’s move to AC Milan was scrapped in January after he failed a medical.
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He might return to the Premier League.
