Former Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips has said his old club should look to keep hold of Callum O’Hare past this summer.
The Villa academy graduate will see his contract at the club come to an end this summer having turned down a number of approaches to renew terms.
Having enjoyed a superb season on loan with newly promoted Championship side Coventry City, where he made 40 appearances in all competitions for the Sky Blues, netting four assists and gaining seven assists, O’Hare’s reputation has every much been enhanced.
The former England under-20 international is set to receive an offer from Coventry to make a permanent move.
However, touching on the matter to Football Insider, former Villa goalscorer Phillips gave his opinion on the future of the impressing midfielder, urging his former club to renew his deal.
“I have watched him a couple of times this season and he looks like an exciting prospect.
“He looks really happy at Coventry and now that they are promoted, he may be tempted to stay. But Aston Villa are a huge, huge football club.
“If Villa were to go down I would be trying like mad if I was Dean Smith to get him back to my club to help us get straight back to the Premier League.
“He has shown that he can handle first-team football at that level. He would step up to the Championship no problem.
“Is he ready for a season in the Premier League? Probably not but if Villa were in the Championship I would certainly want him back and helping.
“It is disappointing for Dean Smith but players often go out on loan, enjoy themselves and want to stay.”
Football Insider have also claimed in recent weeks that Villa would be due a compensation fee for training costs if he were to leave the club this summer.
Whilst you can understand Phillips’ comments on the midfielder remaining at Villa, O’Hare has to look at what is best for his immediate future and that would be guaranteed football, something he would simply not be afforded with Dean Smith’s side.
It seems that O’Hare has made his mind up about his future, having rejected a number of new contract offers from Villa and it’s not hard to see why he has come to such a decision.
Having had such a good season with Mark Robins’ side, the youngster will now feel that he warrants regular first team football, something he has been given with Coventry.
Where do you think O’Hare will be playing his football next summer? Let us know in the comments section…
