Out with the old, in with the new. But this departure surely goes with our thanks.

So in comes Lucas Digne, and out goes winger Anwar El Ghazi who heads in the opposite direction, to Everton, for a loan spell until the end of the current campaign.

El Ghazi forum thread: click here…

Anwar El Ghazi has joined Everton on loan until the end of the season.

Good luck, @ElGhazi1995. 👊

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 13, 2022

We discuss El Ghazi in our latest podcast, it mostly covers Lucas Digne, but if you listen or forward to 18 minutes in… although quite why you would forward and miss any of our genius (sic) is beyond me!… you’ll get the talk on the exit.

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/60OYZWKGd3xk5lAUDGA59K?si=09KJVn59SXWjSgNk4fSfKg
Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-vital-villa-show-an-aston-villa-podcast/id1533584929?i=1000547855647

It looks like a loan only, I’ve not seen any mention of an option to buy, but then, it wouldn’t be a major surprise if they had a clause would it?

Was this the right time for him to go?

As I say in the podcast:

“It was.” So there you go!!!

I go on to say, and please give us a listen and subscribe apple or spotify : “I think some of the criticism tabled against him seems really harsh to me. He does at times blow hot and cold, but over the last 5 seasons, in fact, more than that, who hasn’t blown hot and cold?” Adding, “I think it was ten goals he got for us last season, he’s not let us down, ok he isn’t the next level, but he should go with our thanks.” Another point raised is the winger has proved he wants to play football, not just collect his wages and sit on the bench – and very nice wages I am sure they are. So that reflects well on him, doesn’t it?

Thanks for the memories, thanks for the effort, certainly time to move on, good luck – just not if you play against us (in the future, he can’t whilst on loan! Thought I’d add that before someone else chips in!!)

All our podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/1C5uRWTcC8IRmevOOIMY9L and https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-vital-villa-show-an-aston-villa-podcast/id1533584929