Could Villa lose another big name this summer?

The Rumour

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is facing his second crisis in a week – as a battle looms to keep £20million England winger Ashley Young.

Just 72 hours after Gareth Barry quit for Manchester City, Young, 23, is believed to be concerned that the club will struggle to replace his international team-mate despite the £12million they have raked in.

Chelsea’s chief scout Frank Arnesen is huge admirer of Young – and it would signal a massive blow for Villa if they were to lose a second major star this summer.

The Source: (Daily Mirror)

The Analysis

If you were an Aston Villa fan you would be forgiven for thinking that your team’s world had turned upside down in the space of a few short months. Last season Martin O’Neill was performing miracles and looked like he might just sneak his midlands side into the coveted top four but then a big dip in form left the club falling down the table to sixth. Then captain marvel Martin Laursen is forced to retire through injury and earlier this week Gareth Barry sealed his move to Man City.

Now Chelsea are circling like vulture to see if they can pounce on another of the club’s big talents in the shape of Ashley Young. The former Watford man is a hugely impressive wide man of the old fashioned variety. He can beat a man for pace has a good finish on him and has a fair bit of vision and footballing intelligence to boot, so how much longer can O’Neill keep him?

Well the Belfast born manager will have to convince Ashley that a move to Stamford Bridge may not be as good a move as it at first seems, and he can rightfully point to the examples of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Glen Johnson, Steve Sidwell and Scott Parker to name just four other Englishmen who’s careers stuttered in west London.

The Likelihood

Young to Chelsea: Villa will keep their man this summer, but a move in January could be on the cards if the team fails to build on successes.

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