According to TalkSport reporter Alex Crook, Aston Villa and manager Steven Gerrard are unlikely to sign Luis Suarez this summer, despite the star man becoming a free agent at the end of June.
The Villans have stormed into the summer transfer window, signing Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal after his successful loan season and signing Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara on a free deal with Diego Carlos from Sevilla for a reported fee of £26 million coming in as well.
One player the club has been heavily linked with so far this summer is former Barcelona striker and former teammate of Gerrard, Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan striker is set to become a free agent after his contract with Atletico Madrid runs out at the end of June and has been rumoured for a return to the Premier League.
However, it would now appear that the striker with 436 career goals is now ‘unlikely’ to join the midlands outfit, as according to TalkSport’s Crook, a trusted source from the team believes they will not make a move as Gerrard does not want to turn his side into a ‘Liverpool tribute act’.
He told GiveMeSport, “I was told Suarez is unlikely by somebody I trust up in the Midlands. And actually, does Steven Gerrard have to be careful about not turning Villa into a Liverpool tribute act? And I think he’ll be aware of that”.
TIF Thoughts on Suarez rumours…
While it is fair for Gerrard to be sceptical about signing too many former Liverpool teammates of his, passing up the chance to take a free run at one of the best strikers of the last decade could come back to haunt the Englishman.
Signing the 35-year-old for a transfer fee could prove unwise as it is unsure how he would fare in the pace of the Premier League after a disappointing season by his account for Atletico last season where he only managed to bag 11 La Liga goals. However, Villa’s front men struggled for goals last season as Ollie Watkins only managed 11 in all competitions and Danny Ings only managed seven in his first season at the club.
Villa is looking to push up the table next season after a disappointing 14th place finish in the 21/22 campaign. The signings they have made so far will certainly help them, but not taking the chance to sign a prolific striker who could push them even further while giving advice to their young players could be a mistake from the club.
Should Villa sign Suarez?Yes
No
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