---
title: "Aston Villa: Lange wanted to see more of Sanson"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-lange-wanted-to-see-more-of-sanson/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-09-03T14:10:43Z"
modified: "2021-09-05T07:00:58Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Lange wanted to see more of Sanson

**Aston Villa sporting director Johan Lange wanted Morgan Sanson to be given a chance under Dean Smith prior to his injury, according to [Gregg Evans](https://theathletic.com/2798537/2021/08/31/villa-were-decisive-and-ings-buendia-and-bailey-help-give-them-a-fearsome-squad/?source=emp_shared_article).**

### The Lowdown: Sanson’s struggles

Sanson, on [£48,000-a-week](https://www.spotrac.com/epl/aston-villa-fc/payroll/) at Villa Park, hasn’t had the best of starts to his career in the Midlands following his move from Marseille in January.

The 27-year-old missed the final [nine](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/morgan-sanson/leistungsdaten/spieler/174094/plus/0?saison=2020) games of the 2020/21 campaign through injury. However, before then, the French midfielder only started [three](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/morgan-sanson/leistungsdaten/spieler/174094/plus/0?saison=2020) of [12](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/morgan-sanson/leistungsdaten/spieler/174094/plus/0?saison=2020) and failed to complete a full [90 minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/morgan-sanson/leistungsdaten/spieler/174094/plus/0?saison=2020) under Smith.

Lange was the man who [pushed](https://theathletic.com/2798537/2021/08/31/villa-were-decisive-and-ings-buendia-and-bailey-help-give-them-a-fearsome-squad/?source=emp_shared_article) through a New Year move, and it appears as if he wanted Sanson to have featured more prominently at Villa Park.

\[freshpress-poll id=”372381″\]

### The Latest: Evans’ claim

[Evans](https://theathletic.com/2798537/2021/08/31/villa-were-decisive-and-ings-buendia-and-bailey-help-give-them-a-fearsome-squad/?source=emp_shared_article), Villa’s reporter for The Athletic, shared a story on Villa’s transfer business on Wednesday.

Within his [report](https://theathletic.com/2798537/2021/08/31/villa-were-decisive-and-ings-buendia-and-bailey-help-give-them-a-fearsome-squad/?source=emp_shared_article), he spoke in detail about the club’s central midfield ranks after they failed in an attempt to sign Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse.

Evans admitted that Lange was very keen for Sanson to be given a chance to show what he is made of, presumably before his injury last season.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”368552″\]

### The Verdict: Crucial campaign

Sanson made his first appearance for Villa in [149](https://theathletic.com/2798537/2021/08/31/villa-were-decisive-and-ings-buendia-and-bailey-help-give-them-a-fearsome-squad/?source=emp_shared_article) days on Tuesday for the Under-21’s against Wycombe Wanderers, registering an [assist](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/morgan-sanson/leistungsdaten/spieler/174094/plus/0?saison=2021) in a [3-1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/morgan-sanson/leistungsdaten/spieler/174094/plus/0?saison=2021) win.

The midfielder is working his way back and this season appears to be crucial when it comes to Sanson making the grade in the Midlands.

He wasn’t starting on a regular basis prior to his injury, and if he continues to struggle, a transfer worth over [£14m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/morgan-sanson/transfers/spieler/174094) won’t look good business.

[***In other news: ‘Welp’ – Many Aston Villa fans fume as news emerges.***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-fans-react-to-buendia-and-martinez-update-2/)