"Surprised...": Reliable journo drops big AVFC transfer claim, Gerrard must act - opinion

The sale of Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi would come as a surprise this summer.

That is according to Midlands-based journalist Josh Holland, who stated his belief in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that the Netherlands international still has something to offer to Aston Villa.

As per the report, it is said that the Villans want to sell four players this summer, after bringing in the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and Robin Olsen.

The quartet mentioned in the report are Trezeguet, Bertrand Traore, Morgan Sanson and El-Ghazi.

However, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Holland said: “I think all of them are expected. I think the only one I was surprised about would be El Ghazi. I rated him when he was at Ajax and Lille. It’s not really worked for him in England, and his loan move to Everton, I can’t even remember him feature for them at all.”

The departure of El Ghazi could well make for a controversial move on Steven Gerrard’s part, considering the fact that he has not been given a chance under the tutelage of the Liverpool legend.

As Holland mentions, the now 27-year-old shone in his first two Eredivisie seasons with Ajax, but did show a case of dramatic inconsistency when he blanked in 12 appearances for the Amsterdam outfit in his third and final season at the club.

His end product also took a hit in Ligue 1 with Lille, with his most prosperous season in France seeing him conjure eight attacking returns in the form of four goals and four assists over 27 appearances.

Though the Netherlands winger has demonstrated his effectiveness in England’s top-flight, finishing as the club’s second-highest goalscorer in the 20/21 season with ten goals.

As such, at the age of 27, entering his prime years, he