---
title: "Aston Villa: Journalist expects two defenders to leave in 2021"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-journalist-expects-two-defenders-to-leave-in-2021/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2020-12-05T13:15:39Z"
modified: "2020-12-05T13:15:39Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Journalist expects two defenders to leave in 2021

**Aston Villa have added a lot of quality to their squad since their [promotion](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/startseite/verein/405) to the top flight, and this means that some members of the squad that earned promotion could be forced out. Ashley Preece believes it could soon be the end of the road for defensive duo Ahmed Elmohamady and Neil Taylor.**

### Preece’s update on the Villa duo

Speaking via Birmingham Live, Preece [said](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-january-transfer-window-19345470): “With regards to Villa’s full-back options, it looks set to be Neil Taylor’s and Ahmed Elmohamady’s final year with Villa knowing their contracts run out in June 2021. The dependable duo have been solid servants ever since arriving but given their ages – Elmo’s 32 in February while Taylor’s 33 – they’ll most-likely move onto pastures new.”

### This news makes perfect sense

The two were key to helping the club get back to the Premier League – Taylor played [34](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/neil-taylor/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/67416/verein/405) games in the promotion season, whilst Elmohamady played [41](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ahmed-elmohamady/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/66333/verein/405).

However, this campaign the two have only played [three games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/startseite/verein/405) between them, and it highlights that they have become surplus to requirements for Dean Smith at Villa Park.

With the good [form](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-fans-react-to-praise-for-defender-matt-targett/) of left-back Matt Targett, and with right-back [Matty Cash](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matty-cash/profil/spieler/425334) signing in the summer, the two Villa veterans are struggling for game time. If they want to play consistently before hanging up their boots, they will have to move on. Therefore, the move benefits all parties. They get to find somewhere where they can play more, whilst Villa get two players off their wage bill who simply aren’t going to make a big impact anymore.

***In other Villa news, fans have been piling praise on one star at the club following his latest comments. Have a read who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-fans-laud-martinez-after-his-latest-comments/)!***