Noel Whelan has urged Aston Villa to sign Wolves defender Kortney Hause on a permanent deal, claiming that the 23-year-old is a “different class” to the club’s current centre-backs.
Hause has recently returned to Molineux after a successful loan stint with Dean Smith’s side, which saw the player join in January and make an average of 3.8 clearances per game in 12 Championship outings [Source: WhoScored].
An earlier report [The Telegraph] claimed that Villa side have since triggered the option in the loan deal that would see the club take Hause – who stands at 6ft 2 [Source: Transfermarkt] – back to Villa park on a permanent contract.
Speaking to Football Insider, BBC pundit Whelan said that if Villa end up signing Hause, he would perform well in the side.
“Villa certainly need more and better defenders in the Premier League and they have to spend their money wisely this summer,” the pundit said. “Kortney Hause certainly seems a confident young man and has something about him. Can he adapt to Aston Villa? Yes.
“I know Villa fans will be questioning why Nuno would be letting him go from Wolves but they have some top centre-backs blocking his path. I think he’s different class to the defenders Villa had at the start of last season.”
OPINION
Whelan is absolutely spot on with these comments. Not only would Hause be a solid addition, but he is one that would be within easy reach. The 23-year-old looked solid in his short time at Villa Park, and – as Whelan says – there is no reason why the player would not be able to move back into the Premier League and do a very good job for Smith’s side. He certainly looked the part in the Championship and would likely fit right in again next season. What’s more, Wolves have the likes of Conor Coady at the back, meaning there is no need for them to want to keep Hause around in the coming months. Besides, that stance from Nuno Espirito Santo’s side would not be surprising given that there was reportedly that clause inserted which would allow Villa to sign him permanently. And, if The Telegraph’s initial claim is true, then Smith’s side are surely close to a third summer signing.