Why Aston Villa transfer link with former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin makes lots of sense and none at all

Aston Villa have been linked with the shock free transfer signing of former England international striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Villa are on the hunt for an understudy for Ollie Watkins in the transfer window. Loanee Marcus Rashford played the role in the second half of last season after the sale of Jhon Durán but Villa’s current options leave Unai Emery short of depth and variety.

Donyell Malen can play as a central striker but is understood to be preferred in his more familiar right-wing position, while 19-year-old Zépiqueno Redmond is yet to feature in any of Villa’s pre-season friendly matches.

With Manchester United reportedly moving on from their interest in Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and no concrete bid yet made for any of the other first team players deemed sellable for the right price, the club’s ability to bring in Villa’s own top targets is limited by the need to comply with Premier League profit and sustainability rules next June and the more immediate requirement to meet UEFA restrictions on the wage bill.

United want Watkins enough to brief Rio Ferdinand and Bryan Mbeumo to tap him up through a YouTube video that definitely has absolutely nothing to do with Ferdinand’s former club but not enough to value him at anything like a fee Villa would even contemplate – not that they should be considering a sale in any circumstances anyway.

Villa’s priorities lie in other positions but Watkins needs support and back-up even if Monchi isn’t in a position to provide the striker with competition, which is how we arrive at the previously unfathomable notion of possibly making an offer for Calvert-Lewin.

Some sense, no sense and nonsense

Now 28, Calvert-Lewin left Everton when his contract expired at the end of June. He played 240 Premier League matches in nine seasons with the Toffees, scoring 57 goals.

Calvert-Lewin is a talented but patchy striker and with a record like that he won’t be a starter wherever he ends up playing his football next month. It’s in that context, not as a Watkins replacement, that Villa’s reported interest should be judged.

Villa won’t play with two up front, nor will they sign a genuine threat to Watkins’ supremacy. If Calvert-Lewin is being considered, he’s being considered as an understudy. Villa wouldn’t be asking him to play 20 times a season or score every other week.

Any move for the former Sheffield United centre-forward would be a calculated gamble on his ability to fulfil a wholly unfamiliar role but one to which he might be better suited despite his relatively young age.

That’s where the arguments against Villa making an offer begin.

Calvert-Lewin isn’t 30 until 2027 but he’s available on a free because he’s missed a fair amount of football through injury and can’t be relied upon to be a regular scorer.

Whether his profile suits Villa’s needs is ultimately a decision for Monchi and Emery but the possibility that he ends up being out of action at the same time as Watkins has to be a consideration.

In my view, it’s that consideration that should rule Calvert-Lewin out.

I can get my head around an experienced back-up option and even the idea that Calvert-Lewin – who is by no means a hopeless player – might pop up with three goals in a month when Villa need it most. I just have little confidence that he would even be available when called upon.

Regardless, Villa’s supposed interest was initially reported in The Sun. So, yeah.

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