Aston Villa to settle three players' futures
New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier faces his first big off-field decision soon as he must decide whether to let a trio of players worth around £16 million leave or try to keep them at Villa Park.
John Carew, Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell all have contracts that run out next summer, and the Daily Mirror report that Houllier has three months to decide whether to try and get them to agree a new deal, or let them leave the club for free.
Carew joined in exchange for £3.5 million-rated Milan Baros from Lyon, while Reo-Coker cost £7.5 million when he signed from West Ham and Sidwell commanded a fee of £5 million when he moved to the club from Chelsea.
All three are free to discuss moves to overseas clubs on a Bosman from January 1, and even if the club do try to sell them in the winter window, any fees would be reduced as the players have so little left on their contracts. However, moving them on would reduce the Villa wage bill which the Mirror report as being £70 million annually.
Villa fans, are any of them worthy of new contracts? Share your view in the box below...
Published: 29 Sep 2010
thomas o reilly (October 2, 2010 1:14 AM) said:
let sidwell go he is useless but keep carew and reo coker they are quality