Before even a ball was kicked in the Championship this season, Aston Villa were touted as promotion favourites but the Villans experienced a poor start to their season under Champions League winning manager Roberto Di Matteo. Steve Bruce steadied the ship after that but still the Midlands side are not close enough in the promotion race.
Aston Villa are 14 points behind second placed Brighton and Hove Albion and four behind the final playoff spot holders Leeds United. However, Villa could still definitely finish in top six and to ensure that, Bruce is likely to be active in the market in January.
According to reports, Steve Bruce is looking to utilise the upcoming winter transfer window to put an end to the club’s struggles in front of the goal by bringing in Middlesbrough outcast Jordan Rhodes to Villa Park. The Scottish forward is finally getting his Premier League chance at the Riverside Stadium due to an injury to Alvaro Negredo and is likely to quit Boro in the summer or even in the winter window for regular playing time.
Rhodes started this past weekend at Southampton, which was only his second start this term. He has not scored at Riverside since his then Championship-record move from Blackburn last January and is keen to play regularly. He still remains a quality striker and is tried and tested in the Championship level over the years. Despite doing so well in the second tier of English football over the years, Rhodes were never snapped up by any Premier League side earlier in his career which is really a bit surprising.
He earned his step up to the big stage with Boro last season by finishing second in the Championship but since then, he has struggled for both opportunities and form at the Riverside Stadium. Rhodes has a brilliant resume to his name and has been one of the best strikers in the championship in the last few years but it is hard to imagine how another striker will fit at Aston Villa.
The Midlands club has plenty of options up front with Kodija, Ayew, McCormack, Gestede, Agbonlahor and Kozák. Unless they sell a few, there is no way Bruce will go for Rhodes. Kodija and Ayew have both been decent while McCormack and Gestede have not been that impressive. Agbonlahor and Kozák have merely played, on the other hand.
Rhodes might prove to be a better player than any of the six strikers Aston villa have but will damage the team morale. In the 4-2-3-1 system Villa play, there is place for only one number nine and Kodija is that player at the moment. Too much competition for a starting place will kill Villa’s team morale. Besides, will Rhodes want to move to a club who have so many options?
