Aston Villa are ready to hear out offers for their out-of-favor striker, Ross McCormack, as his rift with Steve Bruce continues to boil over at Villa Park. Ever since the blow out over punctuality in January 2017, the 31-year-old has been an outcast in the Claret and Blues ranks and has also been omitted from the club’s preseason plans at Portugal.
This is definitely the right move for all parties as McCormack himself might just be ready to move things along since his failed £12m switch from Fulham in August 2016. The veteran was once a highly-rated striker in the EFL Championship as stated by his former boss, Slavisa Jokanovic.
“Obviously we lost a very important player. He is a fantastic player so it is a killer and I’m sure he going to score the goals for other clubs that he scored with us. I offered to build around him at the end of the season, but clearly, Ross took the decision to look for another challenge. I was very honest with him and he was very honest with me.”
Unfortunately for McCormack, the risk to make a switch did not pay off great dividends as he is now in a completely barren territory. The 31-year-old, who has registered 120 goals and 58 assists in 333 Championship games has featured in just 66 minutes of action in the last term for Villa.
He had to find an escape in the Hyundai A-League where he delivered 14 goals in 17 appearances for Melbourne City FC. The former Scotland international now has to fight his way back to regular team football and also to regain his previous scoring form with hopefully a favorable outfit.
McCormack gave 4 years of his life to Leeds United during which he racked up over 150 appearances, 58 goals and 31 assists. He has prolific scoring records with Fulham and Cardiff City as well, managing 30 goals in 88 matches for the latter.
In a sense, the Scotsman was a complete forward with all the right traits of someday making it in the Premier League. Unfortunately for him, his prospects did not pan out and Villa are ready to get him off their wage books.
The Birmingham-based outfit are undergoing financial issues of their own and cannot afford to employ unnecessary personnel any longer. Steve Bruce will have to trim the fat in order to accumulate a competent squad for the upcoming season.
