Aston Villa would making big error of judgement selling Guilbert before Elmohamady

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Aston Villa appear to be prepared to sell full-back Frederic Guilbert after just one season at the club.

The Frenchman actually became a Villa player in January 2019, but finished up the 2018/19 season on loan at Caen.

Guilbert was a regular in the starting XI for most of the 2019/20 season, losing his place towards the end with Ezri Konsa eventually preferred by Dean Smith.

Guilbert made a strong impression on the Villa faithful, and there has been some confusion as to why the club are reportedly (Telegraph) ready to sanction his exit.

The arrival of Matty Cash from Nottingham Forest would perhaps make his life more difficult in terms of getting regular minutes.

But some fans have been clamouring for Guilbert and Cash to play at the same time, with the new signing further ahead, or Guilbert to play as a right-sided centre-back.

Certainly it can be argued that selling Guilbert before Elmohamady would be a strange one.

TBR’s View – Guilbert must be kept

Guilbert is clearly a very popular figure at Villa Park judging by the noise on social media about his potential exit.

Villa fans appear to be deadset against the Frenchman going, and rightly so.

Guilbert was not always consistent last term, but largely he was dependable for Smith.

Surely, if any right-back is to be sold this window it has to be Elmohamady, who has just turned 33.

The Egyptian has been a great servant for Villa, but the club cannot allow sentiment to cloud their judgement – Guilbert is younger, better and may relish a battle for minutes with Cash.