A different day, another rumour, or two. Today, Aston Villa have been linked with two players from rival Championship clubs. Romaine Sawyers of Brentford and Matt Penney from Sheffield Wednesday are both on Villa’s radar according to Pete O’Rourke.
Dale wrote on avillafan.com last week about potential links to Brentford players just last week. He spoke about how he thought that Dean Smith could raid his former club. Is this new link to a Brentford player just lazy journalist work or could there be something in it? I guess, only time will tell. I am sure there are few out there who would have a flutter with a bonus code.
Romaine Sawyers
I can’t say I am surprised that Sawyers has been linked with a move to Villa. The 27-year-old has worked with Smith on two previous occasions at Walsall and Brentford. The links don’t end there either. The midfielder was also born in Birmingham and came through West Bromwich Albion‘s academy. But what are we actually getting?
When asking friends who support Walsall they claimed that Sawyers blows very hot and cold. Not that they wouldn’t love the opportunity to take him back to the Bescott. He has a market value of £2.7million according to Transfermarkt.co.uk and his contract has just 18 months left to run on his deal.
According to Whoscored, Sawyers can play in different roles in the centre of midfield. This season, for example, he has played 9 games in an attacking midfield role and 7 in a defensive role. He is a good passer of the ball but tends to avoid going into tackles.
If there was any truth in this story then I wouldn’t be surprised if we were to see one of the midfielders currently at the club sold. Villa currently has 7 players who play central midfield. With rumours of Mile Jedinak going back to Australia, I wonder if anyone else will be offloaded?
Matt Penney
I can’t say I know too much about Penney. You may call me a football snob but I can’t say I have heard of him before. That isn’t to say he wouldn’t be a good signing though. I am just a football fan who writes about my football club!
O’Rourke has stated that Villa, along with Bournemouth and Brighton have been tracking the defender. The 20-year-old is versatile, being able to play both in defence and midfield out on the left. Following loan spells with Bradford and Mansfield, he has broken into the Sheffield Wednesday side this season.
Penney has gone on to make 17 appearances in all competitions so far in a struggling Wednesday side. His side is also keen to tie him down to a new long-term deal.
Villa has been linked with Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna in the past and that rumour doesn’t seem to be going away. It will be interesting to see just how many changes and what money is available to Smith in January.
Penney has just signed a new deal at SWFC