Newcastle United have been linked with a big-money move for Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings.
The Lowdown: Mings’ future in doubt
Mings, described as ‘outstanding’ by Gabby Agbonlahor, has made 127 appearances for Villa and has once again been a regular this season under both Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard.
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The club captain has missed just two Premier League fixtures during the current campaign and is now valued at a career-high £28.8m by Transfermarkt.
However, despite being a regular and seemingly at the top of his game, his Villa Park future is apparently up in the air.
Mings was name-checked as one of eight players who could leave ahead of Gerrard’s first full season in charge, and it looks as if a Premier League rival are now exploring a move.
The Latest: Newcastle interest
According to The Mirror, Mings is a £35m summer target for Newcastle, with Eddie Howe the man to sign the defender for Bournemouth back in 2015.
The report adds that Gerrard could be persuaded to green-light a big-money sale, providing he can bring in Joe Gomez from Liverpool, in what would be the Villans’ third-biggest sale ever after Jack Grealish and Christian Benteke.
The Verdict: Another needed?
Should Mings depart and Gomez arrive, Villa would still have four senior centre-backs on the books. Gomez could join Calum Chambers, Kortney Hause and Ezri Konsa at Villa Park, however, the latter of the trio is out injured for four months with a knee problem.
Therefore, it could make sense to bring in another centre-back over the coming months ahead of Gerrard’s first full season in what could be a busy summer with NSWE willing to spend over £150m.
In other news: Journo reveals Villa now eyeing ‘surprise’ move for 201-goal attacking midfielder