Chris Sutton issues warning as Aston Villa eye Luis Suarez

Aston Villa aren’t short of strikers with Ollie Watkins, Danny Ings, Cameron Archer, Keinan Davis and Wesley Moraes on the books, but Archer won’t command a starting place next season, Davis could be offloaded after falling down the pecking order and Wesley is surplus to requirements, so Steven Gerrard is scouring the transfer market for potential replacements.

One player Villa have been linked with is Luis Suarez – a 35-year-old striker who left Atletico Madrid on a free transfer this summer. He’s a former teammate of Gerrard’s and may jump at the chance to return to the Premier League, but Chris Sutton doesn’t believe it would be a good move.

He said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club: “Come on. That can’t happen. I really don’t see it. I don’t think it’s one of those that Villa fans will be excited about the signing. They want to see the team kick on next season. He is not in the shape that he once was. He is 35.”

Suarez joined Atleti on a two-year deal from Barcelona in 2020 and went on to make 83 appearances in all competitions, scoring 34 goals with six assists. The Uruguayan international netted 13 goals from 45 games in his final season at the Wanda Metropolitano, so he didn’t have the worst campaign to sign off on.

Suarez only started 20 of 38 La Liga games in 2021/22, so does he have the fitness to return to the Premier League next season?

In other news, Alan Hutton tips Aston Villa to sign Calvin Bassey