Villa source: Gerrard now wants 'frustrating' star sold this summer after storming off – report

Aston Villa will tell midfielder Morgan Sanson he is free to leave the club in the summer, Football Insider report.

Sanson, who Dean Smith labelled as ‘frustrating’ last year due to injury problems, has made just three league starts all season in what has been a disappointing first full campaign at Villa Park.

Pundit Kevin Phillips believed the French midfielder even stormed off earlier this season against Newcastle, with Sanson also reacting angrily after not coming on against Arsenal back in October.

The 27-year-old started in the 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Saturday afternoon, but prior to that, a major update emerged regarding his Midlands future.

A Villa source told Football Insider that Steven Gerrard wants to let Sanson go in the summer.

Villa chiefs will now tell the midfielder he can find a new club in the summer window, with Gerrard planning a major overhaul ahead of his first full season in charge.

Things just haven’t worked out for Sanson at Villa Park under both Smith and Gerrard, so it seems to make sense to look to cash in ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He has failed to nail down a starting spot under two different bosses with two different systems, even with Gerrard switching to a 4-3-1-2 system, which appeared to favour Sanson.

Sanson has made just 20 appearances in all competitions and is under contract until 2025, so hopefully, Villa will be able to recoup a large percentage of the £14.22m fee they paid Marseille last year.

In other news: Villa and Lange now make contact with ‘tall’ forward’s agent; possible club-record move. 

Source