OPINION
Aston Villa made a surprise signing in January when they opted to recruit the services of Swansea City midfielder Tom Carroll, and surely they have made a blunder by recruiting the 26-year-old.
The Swans’ official website confirmed on transfer deadline day that the Villans had borrowed the services of the midfielder until the end of the season, and you feel the Welsh Championship side got the better deal.
This is because Carroll has struggled to impress in the Championship and has missed several games due to groin as well as hip complaints this season.
The 26-year-old hasn’t featured in the league for the Swans since the end of October and even when he has been featuring, he doesn’t look suited to the division.
In his 12 league appearances so far this season, Carroll has proven to be sloppy with his passes, which is meant to be his strength, and too lightweight as he is regularly muscled off the ball.
It’s also not like the midfielder has blistering pace nor a good track record in front of goal, so it’s odd to see how he improves the Villans’ current options.
While the player’s work ethic can not be doubted, the Villans need more than that from a player in order to push on for a play-off spot.
Carroll doesn’t look comfortable in the Championship and that’s unlikely to change just because he is now wearing a Villa shirt, so clearly it’s a blunder on Dean Smith’s part.
Aston Villa ahead of announcing they had signed Carroll were reported as being in pursuit of Swans midfielder Leroy Fer by Sun journalist Mike McGrath (via his Twitter) and given that he ended up staying at Swansea, then Graham Potter’s side got the better deal on this occasion.
#AstonVilla are making a move for #Swansea midfielder Leroy Fer #AVFC. Fenerbahce and Lille looking at him earlier in window
— Mike McGrath (@mcgrathmike) January 31, 2019
Fer is a midfielder who could have made a splash at Villa Park and it seems that Swans have done well keeping him with Carroll ending up exiting instead.