Aston Villa have been linked with an Everton stat ahead of the January transfer window.placeholder image
Aston Villa have been linked with an Everton stat ahead of the January transfer window. | AFP via Getty Images
Aston Villa could decide to engage in a swap deal with Everton to secure a target this winter
Aston Villa have been linked with a key man at Everton in recent weeks, and a stunning swap deal could take place to see Unai Emery get his man in the January transfer window.
The Villans have regained their place amongst the Premier League’s elite in recent years, meaning Emery’s side now have the scope to flex their financial muscle over a huge club like Everton, who have not enjoyed the same success lately.
While the Toffees showed promising early signs in their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, they are back in the familiarity of the bottom half at present - while Villa have shot up the other way and taken up a spot in the top six. Leeds United lie in wait after the international break.
With the mid-season transfer window approaching, both clubs could engage in a swap deal which would see Villa seal a top target while Everton solve a worrying problem of their own.
Aston Villa interested in James Garner
As previously reported by BirminghamWorld, Aston Villa are one of several Premier League clubs to hold an interest in Everton midfielder James Garner, as per Football Insider. The 24-year-old has also attracted glances from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, and could ultimately be out of the door at the Hill Dickinson Stadium if the Toffees decide to sanction a departure.
With his contract running out next summer, the Merseyside outfit will need to make a decision over his future in January. Garner joined the club for £15million back in 2022 and has proven a reliable addition to the squad, recently leading manager David Moyes to heap praise on the midfielder: “He’s been fantastic since I came in. I didn’t realise probably how good he was. He’s been so good.”
It is, therefore, no surprise that the Villans have taken an interest in the Englishman, who could become a bargain market opportunity if he is to be sold with just six months on his deal remaining. The Birmingham outfit could even decide to sanction a surprise swap transfer in order to get the deal done.
Garner and Evann Guessand swap deal could be intriguing solution
Aston Villa signed forward Evann Guessand from Nice in the summer but the Ivorian has flattered to deceive, meaning Emery could decide to cut his losses early and offer the 24-year-old in a straight swap for age-mate Garner.
Despite many believing Guessand was an understudy to Ollie Watkins on his arrival, the versatile forward has often been used on the right-wing and has struggled, leading to significant fan criticism. But he did register 13 goals and 10 assists for Nice last season, and so an effective top-flight player is definitely within the out-of-sorts forward. Everton have faced significant striker issues of their own, as Moyes continues to struggle with forward options Beto and Thierno Barry, and they could take a punt on Guessand as part of a swap deal with Villa.
Villa secure a reliable Premier League midfielder in Garner and part ways with a potentially-wasteful expenditure in Guessand, while the Toffees sign another forward option who could become the man they have been looking for up front. Could this swap deal go ahead in January?
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