Everton exile lined up to save Aston Villa from the Championship
Published:
Aston Villa still haven’t won since the opening day of the Premier League season. They are now 10 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table and are looking increasingly likely to spend some money once the January transfer window opens.
According to the latest gossip, Remi Garde has identified who he wants as his first Villa signing, and it’s rarely-seen Everton forward Steven Naismith.
The Scottish international has endured a rollercoaster season with the Toffees already. A bid for his services from Norwich was accepted on deadline day of the summer window, only for the deal to fall through.
He then featured in all of Everton’s first nine league games and scored a hat-trick to defeat Chelsea in September.
However, as Everton have struck upon their strongest XI, with Romelu Lukaku finding peak form flanked by Arouna Kone and Gerard Deulofeu, Naismith has grown surplus to requirements.
The former Rangers and Kilmarnock man has not played a single minute of Premier League football in eight games, being restricted to Capital One Cup appearances and left to grow frustrated at a lack of opportunities.
Clearly Aston Villa believe they can offer the 41-cap international far more regular playing time and, as the top-flight’s joint-lowest scorers, see the forward as the man that can fire them to safety.
Ladbrokes make the midlands outfit 1/10 certainties to be relegated this term, which could dissuade Naismith from joining their plight with Norwich reportedly renewing their summer interest him aswell.
The Canaries are far safer in the bookmaker’s eyes, at a price of 23/10 for the drop, but have only scored six more goals than Villa through 17 games.
Despite only scoring three goals so far this season, both have Naismith pegged as the man to improve their fortunes infront of goal.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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