Aston Villa still in the hunt for Premier League journeymen
Published:Having seen their club hand out contracts to a number of ageing Premier League journeyman, Aston Villa fans will hardly be popping the champagne corks with the news another one could be on his way.
The latest name to be linked with a transfer to Villa Park is former Liverpool, Roma and Fulham left-back John Arne Riise – albeit the revelation came from the player himself.
“There has been some interest from a few English clubs. Aston Villa is one of them. There has been some interest from Spain also,” said the 33-year-old released by the relegated Cottagers this summer.
While Villa got off to a somewhat unexpectedly good start to the season by winning 1-0 at Stoke, Paul Lambert’s defence is in need of further supplement if rumours linking Nathan Baker with a move to Wigan on loan transpire to be true.
However, rather than a centre-half Riise could only be a back-up for new signing Aly Cissokho at left-back.
That eventuality would not spell good news for current understudy Joe Bennett either, who would surely have to assess his Villa future.
If the Norwegian did hook up with his third Premier League club, it would mark a summer of players arriving at the Villans with fairly limited shelf life who don’t appear to have cut the mustard at their previous clubs.
Former West Ham, Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole turns 33 in the autumn, while ex-Manchester United, West Brom, Sunderland and Fulham winger Kieran Richardson hits the magic 30 mark in October.
Meanwhile, veteran of six former clubs Philippe Senderos, also approaches 30 during the season and completes the list of underwhelming if experienced recruits.
Still, after an impressive opening-day victory Villa will take great confidence into their first home league game of the campaign, where they are priced at 7/5 to down Newcastle.
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