In recent weeks, wheb our midfield starlet has been sidelined by an injury, rumours are starting to circulate that Fabian Delph may already have stepped out on the pitch at Villa Park for the final time.
It’s no secret to Villa fans that Delph is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning that he will then be available on a free transfer. This is why it leaves so many villa fans stressing over what is going to happen and where he will end up. Fans just want to see him put pen to paper on a new contract as soon as possible.
This is where the worry is, however. While contracts have already been signed by Grealish, Hutton, Agbonlahor and, of course, Paul Lambert, it seems to be that a player such as Delph would have been top of that list of priorities. So why didn’t he sign? It could be down to a number of reasons: maybe the pay wasn’t good enough, maybe he has already had talks with a new club about a pre-contract agreement to join in the summer or perhaps he wants a new challenge. I don’t know why he has not signed a new contract but, in truth, the Villans really need him to.
Delph signed for Aston Villa from Leeds for a fee of around £5 million and was a young lad who had the potential to become an England great. In his first few seasons in B6, he struggled to break into the first team due to injury but for the past few seasons he has been, by far, one of our best players and one of our only attacking threats in the centre of midfield. It is these performances, as well as his England call-up, that have no doubt ignited the interest from clubs around the country. Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are reportedly interested in the midfielder. Although rumours in the press need to be treated with a degree of scepticism, looking at these clubs, it’s hard to see why Delph would stay at Villa.
There can be no doubt that most Villa fans would beg Delph to stay at B6 but does he owe the club something? Some would argue that in Delph’s early years at the club, we stuck by him during his painful spells on the sideline with injuries and motivated him with starts when he was fit. Also, when he was under-performing, we didn’t write him off but gave him the chances which ultimately made him the midfield maestro he is today.
Although Randy has reportedly said that Delph won’t be leaving in January, other reports claim that £20 million has been set aside to replace him, as well as Vlaar, who is in a similar situation.
I suppose only time will tell what Delph’s plans are. I do know that practically every single Villa fan hopes that he will stay, as we could be in big trouble without him.
I think Delph will probably leave Villa at the end of the season, so simple economics dictate that, unless he signs a new contract soon, he should be sold in the January transfer window along with Vlaar who is in the same situation.
To keep them both after January, unless they sign contracts beforehand, will effectively cost the club £10-12m in lost transfer fees, for them both to play a few months till the end of the season and then leave for nothing.
I’d like to keep them both, but unless they sign new contracts before January, they should be sold if offers come in.
Delph was sh*t for years so he owes us atleast a contract signature so we can get a decent wedge for him.
Also… When has 20 mill ever been set aside to replace a player at Villa?
When you look at Vlaar and Delph they have spent a lot of time injured, but money brought in for them can get spent on areas we need to improve like up front or a creative midfielder or winger.
I would love them to stay but sell and invest.