Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Steven Gerrard will keep Tyrone Mings despite his unclear future at Aston Villa this summer.
The 29-year-old footballer who is coming off a disappointing season at the club level has been linked with a move to Newcastle United. His lack of game time at Villa last season has forced him out of England’s team for June international break.
Steven Gerrard has shown a brutal streak in replacing him with Matt Targett. So, Mings might be shipped off if his manager doesn’t want him at Villa Park.
The 29-year-old will have competition from Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos, but Gabriel Agbonlahor does not believe he will be sold before next season.
“Steven Gerrard has always maintained he wants to bring in an experienced center-half,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider. “That’s what he’s doing in this video. In that backline, he’s not looking for young; he’s looking for experience.
“I think Carlos and Mings would be a good combination, especially because (Ezri) Konsa will be out for a time due to injury. They’re both a lot of fun to be around. Even if he’s brought in two players, I don’t think he’ll let one of them go.”
Mings joined Villa from Bournemouth in 2019 and has since made 128 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals and assisting seven times. The 29-year-old used to be a regular for the Three Lions of England as a result of his then consistency at the club level.
Mings’ anticipated stay this summer has already been explained by Aston Villa, but Konsa’s long-term injury will suffice now. Gerrard only has one pillar of the backline left, thus replacing him with a new defensive partner makes more sense than overhauling the defense.
Steven Gerrard, according to Noel Whelan, is not under pressure at Villa
Aston Villa had a terrible season, ending 14th in the Premier League with fewer wins, defeats, and points than the previous season, thus Steven Gerrard moved quickly in the transfer market to shore up the squad’s weak spots.
Villa has already signed Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona on a permanent deal, Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Olympique Marseille, and Diego Carlos from Sevilla, bolstering the team’s spine.
The Midlands club is aiming for a top-six finish next season, and Noel Whelan believes Gerrard is under a lot of pressure to perform after Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris supported him financially in the transfer market.
“They’re hoping to break into Europe this season — first and foremost,” he told Football Insider. “They are, however, putting together a group that they believe is capable of challenging Liverpool and Man City.
“They’re quite a way off, but they’re going into the transfer market nice and early yet again. Steven Gerrard knows where he stands. It’s really handy when you have a generous board who aren’t afraid to spend the money and get business done quickly.
“They’re building a really good squad at Villa. If they’re not in that top six come next season – there may well be questions asked.” Villa are expected to continue spending this summer too with Gerrard on the hunt for a defender, midfielder and striker, so he can’t argue he’s not been supported by the owners.
It’s unclear whether the Midlands club has a chance to unseat Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Manchester United next season, but they might compete with West Ham United, Leicester City, and Newcastle United for the best of the rest.
