Aston Villa: 'Exceptional' £50k-a-week star could become captain at Villa Park

Aston Villa should look to bring in Burnley defender James Tarkowski as they search for a new club captain, according to journalist Josh Holland.

The Midlands outfit are expected to be in the market for a new leader over the summer after Steven Gerrard has seemingly been left unimpressed with his current options.

Gerrard stated that he would assess the issue of Villa’s captaincy going forwards during his first press conference following his switch from Rangers back in November.

“The captaincy is one of the decisions I am going to be analysing moving forward,” said the 41-year-old tactician.

“I spoke to Tyrone on a couple of occasions…He will remain captain in the short-term, and he will be given every opportunity to impress us and prove he can be the right man for the job. In terms of the long-term decision on that role, I don’t have to commit to that today.”

However, just last month, Gerrard provided an update on the situation, revealing that he could yet bring a player in to lead the dressing room next term.

“We are still working that out,” he said on the subject of the captaincy. “I still won’t rule out the option of someone coming in, who I know, who is also capable of being in the running.

“It is something I am analysing really closely now, and I will make a decision sometime during pre-season.”

At Rangers, Gerrard handed James Tavernier the armband straightaway, replacing Lee Wallace, but Holland has cast doubts over the duo linking up once again at Villa Park.

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When asked if the right-back could be an option for Villa, he told GiveMeSport: “Possibly, but if you bring in James Tavernier, is he going to get in over Matty Cash? And, you know, a