Aston Villa supporters in the Transfer Tavern are very much looking forward to the 2018/19 Championship campaign, what with their side seeking to bounce back from last term’s play-off final heartache.
Steve Bruce’s men produced a fine campaign to secure a fourth place finish in the Championship and thus qualify for the end-of-season lottery, before edging past Middlesbrough in the semi-finals to reach the Wembley showpiece. However, the Villans were unable to get past Fulham at the national stadium to consign them to another season in the second tier, although Villa fans will be hoping their side can go one better this time round.
Thus, there are many expectant and excited Villans supporters up and down the country, several of whom are likely to be intrigued by recent reports linking Thierry Henry with taking over from Bruce as manager.
The Frenchman quit his role as a pundit for Sky Sports earlier this month in a bid to focus on his managerial career, what with the 40-year-old having yet to dip into management despite retiring back in 2014.
Henry has since been an assistant to Roberto Martinez with the Belgium national team but has yet to earn the number one job, although reports suggest that that opportunity could well come at Villa.
And given his legendary status at Arsenal, the chance to work with the Frenchman could well be of keen interest to several of the club’s young players, so here are TWO Henry could lure to Villa Park were he to take over the Championship side…
Having played for Birmingham City last season, this may not go down too well, but left back Cohen Bramall has enjoyed a meteoric rise from playing in non-league as recently as 2017.
The 22-year-old defender joined Arsenal after stints at the likes of Newcastle Town, Market Drayton Town, and Hednesford Town, and while he went on the Gunners’ pre-season tour ahead of the 2017/18 campaign, he has yet to turn out for the North London giants.
And having failed to really make an impact at Birmingham last term, Bramall may well seek another loan move this summer, and the chance to work with an Arsenal legend in Henry may be too good an opportunity to turn down.
Of the many youngsters looking to make the grade at Arsenal, striker Eddie Nketiah has got as good a chance as anybody.
The 19-year-old has already earned ten senior appearances and indeed netted twice for the Gunners to underline just how talented he is and how much potential he has, further emphasised by his tally of 18 goals in just 27 games for the club’s development squad.
And with the next step in his progression likely to be regular football at senior level, Villa could well be able to offer him that chance – a chance he may not turn down were Henry to take over at the Midlands giants.
