Aston Villa should tie down Albert Adomah to a new contract

Aston Villa winger Albert Adomah faces an uncertain future at the club. The 30-year-old is in the final year of his contract with the Midlands outfit and was strongly linked with an exit in the summer. Middlesbrough were close to signing him but the move collapsed. (h/t Birmingham Mail)

With the January transfer window fast approaching, Boro were set to rekindle their interest in the Villa forward, along with Championship rivals Leeds United. (h/t Bristol live)

However, Adomah’s agent, Anthony Finnigan, has quashed any rumours of an exit and has instead claimed that his client wants to stay at Villa and is keen on securing a new contract with the club. (h/t Sport Witness)

“I realise the speculation that comes during this [January] transfer window, but my aim is to discuss with the current manager at the right time about extending his contract and remain at the club,” Finnigan told Sport Witness.

So, should Villa offer the Ghanaian a new contract or cash in on him in January?

Adomah moved to Villa Park from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2016, in a deal worth £5million (h/t Bristol Live). He has gone on to make 98 appearances for the Midlands outfit, scoring 18 goals and setting up 19 more. The 30-year-old played a key role last season, as Villa came ever so close to sealing promotion back to the Premier League, finishing the campaign with 15 goals and 7 assists from 44 games across all competitions.

However, the Ghanaian international struggled for game time at the beginning of the campaign under former manager Steve Bruce.

Since Dean Smith took over the reins at the club last month, Adomah has become a regular feature in the team and has made 16 appearances across all competitions, with just a solitary assist against his name.

Villa have a number of options on the wings with the likes of Anwar El Ghazi, Yannick Bolasie and Jonathan Kodjia in the ranks. However, Bolasie and El Ghazi are on loan deals and will be returning to their parent clubs – Everton and LOSC Lille – at the end of the campaign. And if Villa do not tie down Adomah to a new contract and let him leave once his deal expires, it would render the club short-handed on personnel in the wide areas.

While reinforcements are necessary for the upcoming transfer windows, Adomah is experienced and has proven himself at the club. Furthermore, he offers the manager a number of options with his versatility. And as a result, it would be imprudent on the club’s part to not offer him a new contract.