Aston Villa have been handed a lift by the admission of one in all their reported switch targets.
What’s the phrase?
As per a report from Birmingham Mail, Villa-linked Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has turn into a possible choice, with him reportedly expressing his desperation to depart Anfield resulting from annoyance over an absence of game-time.
Ought to Gerrard signal the Ox?
Sure
No
It’s stated that the previous Arsenal midfielder “may very well be tempted” to work underneath Gerrard after his earlier remark mentioning the Villa boss was hurled again into the highlight amidst the 28-year-old’s hyperlinks with the Midlands membership.
The identical report talked about that, in 2017, Oxlade-Chamberlain stated: “Taking part in for a group like Arsenal, it finally ends up being extra of a right-wing job. I get the ball from deeper and the performs into my fingers extra. On the finish of the day, it’s given me minutes and I’m not one to complain.
“However, the centre-mid position… I’ve all the time wished to be Steven Gerrard, so I’ve nonetheless bought a hope of that.”
Gerrard 2.0
Certainly, the £14.4m-rated Oxlade-Chamberlain’s versatility in itself is an exceptional asset to have among the many group, one thing that Villa have already got to some extent in 36-year-old Ashley Younger.
Nevertheless, while the Liverpool midfielder does certainly supply versatility within the engine room, he has nonetheless struggled for game-time, enjoying simply 787 minutes from 17 appearances within the Premier League final time period.
Twelve of these appearances have seen him perform as a central midfielder, however he’s nonetheless nowhere close to a nailed-on choice in the course of the park.
Turning 29 in August, it’s high-time that the 35-cap England worldwide achieved common first-team standing in a progressive membership the place he might make his means into the primary group as a central midfielder.
Regardless of an absence of game-time, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s numbers are that of a technician and counsel that he can be a superb asset for Gerrard, having taken a leaf out of the Villa supervisor’s e-book along with his balanced enjoying model.
Over the previous 12 months, the 28-year-old has averaged 2.57 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes while nonetheless remaining defensively conscious, as evidenced by 6.96 profitable pressures and 2.4 tackles per 90 minutes.
His balanced model and all-round astuteness might make him a terrific choice ready that the Villa supervisor is aware of just like the again of his hand from his distinguished enjoying profession.
On the above proof, Villa followers would absolutely like to have such a well-rounded midfielder like Oxlade-Chamberlain on the membership underneath the tutelage of one of many Premier League’s most interesting exponents of the place.
In different information: Lange plotting Villa bid for “beautiful” 34-goal sensation, think about him and Coutinho