According to Mirror, Aston Villa are in talks with Daniel Sturridge over a potential move to Villa Park this summer. The England international is currently a free agent after seeing out his contract at Liverpool at the end of last season.
Sturridge has recently been imposed with a six-week ban from football after being found guilty of betting charges. But, that hasn’t deterred the striker from holding talks with clubs in regards to his future next season with Aston Villa emerging as one of the destinations. And here are the pros and cons of Sturridge’s potential move to Villa Park this summer.
Pros
Aston Villa recently shattered their club record fee by signing Club Brugge striker Wesley. The Brazilian is being considered as the primary replacement for Tammy Abraham, who has returned to Stamford Bridge following a productive campaign in the Championship last season.
That being said, Wesley lacks experience in playing in any of Europe’s top five leagues. Hence, he could potentially struggle to get to grips with the increasing competitiveness, especially in the fast-paced nature of the Premier League. Sturridge, in that regard, will provide Dean Smith with an excellent alternative in the number nine role.
The ex-Chelsea and Liverpool striker has a vast experience in the English top-flight, having made over 200 league appearances. He is also a technically gifted striker, and coupled with Wesley’s physical and aerial threat could add another dimension to the Aston Villa forward line next season.
Cons
There are a lot of downsides in Sturridge’s potential move to Villa Park. First of which is the recent six-week ban for betting fraud. And while six-weeks seem not too much, especially during the start of the season, that period could be extended with FA believing the current one is too lenient.
And this could be a massive blow for Aston Villa if they do end up signing the England international this summer. Furthermore, Sturridge has an awful injury record that has kept him out on the sidelines for a chunk of his professional career. The 29-year-old has endured five different types of injuries in the last four years.
He has also played very little football, having failed to surpass the 1,500-minute mark in the league ever since the successful 2013/14 campaign under Brendon Rodgers.
Therefore, Sturridge, by all means, is a risky option for Aston Villa. They should instead, shift their attention towards an equally experienced but a little more proactive striker in their bid to find an alternative to Wesley next season. Charlie Austin, for one, could be an excellent option for the newly-promoted Premier League outfit.
