OPINION
Aston Villa face an uphill battle ditching Scott Hogan in the January transfer window despite Sheffield United reportedly making an approach to take him on loan.
The Daily Mail stated on Saturday that the Villans were open to offers for the 26-year-old forward and that Sheffield United had asked about borrowing his services.
While the newspaper claimed that the Blades weren’t the only team keen on Hogan with Bristol City in pursuit too, the Villans will struggle to get him off their books anytime soon given their demand regarding his exit.
According to the Birmingham Mail while the Villans attacker will be allowed to leave before the end of January, they will only allow his exit if the interested party covers his wages.
When you consider that Hogan earns in the region of £38,000-a-week (as the Mirror claims the player earns £2million-a-year), there will be few suitors not scared off by the prospect of paying him that.
This is because the forward has struggled in recent times for the Villans, hence why they want rid of him, and it’s hard to imagine other clubs be willing to take such an expensive gamble given his form.
Hogan hasn’t scored in any of his seven outings this season and only managed nine goals in the 41 appearances he made across all competitions last season.
That figure is only made worse when you consider three of his goals came in the EFL Cup.
The Villans are unlikely to change their stance on Hogan as while he is not regularly involved with the first team this season, they clearly seem set on having his wages covered if it isn’t going to be permanent deal.
Therefore while Sheffield United and Bristol City are lurking, the Villans still fans an uphill battle when it comes to get rid of Hogan due to wanting someone to cover his lucrative wage.