OPINION
Robert Snodgrass has been a fantastic loan signing for Aston Villa this season, with the Scotland international being one of the club’s key attacking outlets all season.
The 30-year-old wide man has scored eight goals and registered an incredible 12 assists in 33 Championship games for the Villans since joining from West Ham on loan last summer.
While Snodgrass will continue to be a key cog in the Villa attack in the coming weeks and into the play-offs, questions will begin to be asked about his future in the Midlands.
The Scot has made it clear that he wants to remain at Villa Park next season, and the club have too indicated they would like to keep him on board if they are promoted to the Premier League.
However, West Ham have now thrown a spanner in the works that means Snodgrass will not come cheap, and Villa must reconsider their intentions of taking Snodgrass permanently this summer.
As reported by Claret and Hugh, a West Ham insider website, the club have slapped a £12million price tag on Snodgrass should Villa come in for him.
It is said that Hammers boss David Moyes would like to take a look at Snodgrass in pre-season after his impressive form in the Championship, but if he is sold it will be for no less than that.
If this revelation is true, then Villa should look abandon Snodgrass this summer.
Snodgrass is no doubt a good player, as illustrated by his brilliant form for the club this season, but £12million is too steep a price to pay for his services.
The Scotland international is 30 years old and has a limited time left at the top level, especially in the Premier League where he has failed to impress on a consistent basis.
While Villa will have the money to pay up for Snodgrass, they would be much better served in using the cash to fund moves for multiple other deals that would help them bulk up their squad for a run at the top-flight.
Shelling out £12million on Snodgrass may provide returns for a season or so, but Villa would be losing out massively elsewhere and risking a lot on one player in their return to the Premier League.