Aston Villa told to make surprise Luis Suarez transfer decision for £58m reason
Latest Aston Villa transfer news from BirminghamLive brings what former Lions striker Kevin Phillips has said about a potential move from Steven Gerrard's side for Luis Suarez
Former Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips thinks Steven Gerrard should not sign Luis Suarez this summer.
Villa boss Gerrard has been linked with a move for Atletico Madrid striker Suarez with the Uruguayan out of contract at the end of the season. Gerrard already has Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins as his two first-choice strikers with in-form Cameron Archer set to return from his loan spell at Preston North End in the summer.
Suarez will be available on a free transfer and it is not even a whole season since he scored 21 goals for Atleti, the 2020-21 La Liga champions. However, the former Liverpool star is now 35 and has only nine goals from 28 League appearances this season. And that is why Phillips reckons Gerrard should stick with Watkins and Ings, who have been Gerrard's go-to strikers this season.
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Watkins was signed before the start of the previous campaign while Ings' arrival came as a shock in the summer with the pair costing Villa a total of £58million. Combined, the pair have managed 13 goals in the Premier League this season with Watkins scoring 14 by himself in the previous campaign.
"It's a difficult one," Phillips told the website Football Insider. "I've always said how much I like Ings, I think he's a fantastic striker.
"He's not had too many opportunities at Villa. "You would suggest just by that, him sitting on the bench a bit more than Watkins, he would probably be the player to move on.
"I'd love to see him and Watkins being able to work together, they're two very, very good strikers. "The suggestion of bringing Suarez back to the Premier League with Villa, I'm not so sure, being honest.
"I don't think he’d be the same player he was, the Premier League has moved on. I'd rather keep Ings and Watkins than look to bring Suarez in, if I'm being honest. I'm hoping they're both there at the start of next season and challenging for a place in the side."