Aston Villa are starting to look in the right direction. It was always going to be tough to bounce back from their play-off final defeat and hit the ground running when Dean Smith took over, but they look like promotion could be on this season. If they are to go up, they’ll need an overhaul, and the Villains don’t want to see Whelan renew his contract.
#avfc fans, would you offer Glenn Whelan a contract extension? pic.twitter.com/gVetKaajnx
— villareport (@villareport) April 3, 2019
Glenn Whelan may be in fine form as of late, but the Irish midfielder is still 35-years-old and has definitely seen better days. Whilst he may be able to cut it against the bottom 12 teams in the Championship, should the Villains find themselves in the Premier League anytime soon then the midfielder certainly isn’t going to be good enough, and keeping him at the club could be costly.
Dean Smith will know this too. When the former Brentford man was appointed the supporters were under no illusion of what he would bring. Villa Park will be cutting out the constant loan deals, bringing in young faces and trying to go about getting promotion the right way, with plans to get to the top flight and stay there as opposed to making it and coming straight back down, so you can understand the fans reluctance to sign Whelan up for another year.
You can read the fans’ verdict on Whelan here:
No. I like Whelan, always have, but we have to start buying and signing younger players. Keeping older players around is just dead money, and Smith has already discussed us building value within the squad, and there has to be sacrifices to do that. #AVFC
— Phil Roberts (@PhilHRoberts) April 3, 2019
Pointless question as completely depends on how our season ends. Promotion then absolutely not. If we stay in this division then potentially yes.
— Heath Legend (@HeathLegend1987) April 3, 2019
Probably a year extension if we don't go up, other than that, no.
— ᴀꜱᴛᴏɴᴠɪʟʟᴀꜰᴀɴ (@AstonVillaFan_) April 3, 2019
He’s playing well at the min but me personally NO next season he be no good need younger and faster bossing it
— birdmyster (@birdyboyavfc) April 3, 2019
No. He's done well, but at 35 its time to look for a younger more dynamic midfielder.
— Will Monk, but scary. (@WillMonk09) April 3, 2019
I want to but it’s not smart. If we get promoted then he cannot play premier league level matches and if we don’t get promoted we need to move in the direction of a younger squad that demands less wage
— Tyler Hawkins (@TylerHawkins77) April 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/stubirch/status/1113463160772730885
https://twitter.com/_siobhvn/status/1113452984183214080
The Villains are all pretty clear that Whelan shouldn’t sign, although if he’s happy to take a pay cut and they don’t go up this season then it’s certainly still up for debate.
