Aston Villa: Gerrard dilemma could lead to £15m exit at Villa Park | OneFootball

Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis could be deprived of the chance to revive his Villa Park career due to head coach Steven Gerrard having a host of attacking options, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Davis is back at Gerrard’s disposal after spending the second half of last season on loan with Nottingham Forest.

What’s the latest news involving Davis?

According to Football League World, Watford remain in the hunt to lure Davis away from Villa Park ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline.

The report suggests the Hornets, who are now plying their trade in the Championship after suffering relegation from the Premier League last season, are hoping to sign the striker on an initial loan deal.

Watford have held an interest in Davis for a number of months, with them mulling over whether to make a move since it was decided, in June, that drafting in fresh impetus at the top end of the pitch was a priority.

Nottingham Forest have also been interested in sealing the 24-year-old’s return to the City Ground on a permanent basis, but they have failed to strike an agreement since Villa set a £15million valuation.

It is understood that Davis has been the subject of several loan offers from Championship clubs since the summer transfer window opened for business, but Villa are not in a rush to make a decision just yet.

What has Dean Jones said about Davis?

Jones believes Davis could be allowed to move on from Villa as Gerrard already has up to six options in his forward line.

The transfer insider feels the former England under-20 international, who scored two goals in three outings, will have limited opportunities to enjoy game-time if he remains at Villa Park.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Villa are looking at six players for those attacking positions. I’m just not sure there’s going to be room for him to actually make a challenge.

“The only thing you could say that would help him is the five-sub rule, but even with that you’re going to be getting five minutes here and there.”

Should Villa look to sell Davis before the deadline?

Although Davis has returned to Villa, he was not included in the matchday squad for the opening game of the season at Bournemouth last weekend after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

While he has only scored six goals in 86 appearances for his current employers, Davis showed during his temporary spell with Nottingham Forest that he is capable of being a dangerous striker.

Having found the back of the net on five occasions and added a further three assists, he played a key role in Steve Cooper’s side sealing their return to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

That form, along with the fact that Davis has entered the final two years of his £45,000-per-week contract, means it could be the perfect time for Villa to cash-in if he does not figure at the forefront of Gerrard’s plans.