The Birmingham Mail has confirmed that Aston Villa may still owe a ‘significant amount’ to Fulham for out of favour striker Ross McCormack. He made the move to Villa Park in 2016, but the cash strapped club now supposedly still have money to pay off for this transfer.
It remains to be seen where McCormack will be playing his football next season. Aston Villa need to raise funds to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations following their play-off final defeat to Fulham at Wembley. The club however have struggled to move the player on given he is reportedly on a weekly wage of £40,000 with the club.
The 31-year-old last pulled on the famous club jersey was during a Carabao Cup defeat to Middlesbrough all the way back in September. He also appeared in their First Round victory at home to Wigan Athletic. Steve Bruce soon shipped him out on loan after falling out after he turned up late for training. He now rather infamously blamed the electronic gates on his house failing to open. A move to Melbourne City in Australia followed, and his return of 14 goals in 17 matches was an excellent return. However, when that loan ended in Janaury, he has been consigned to the training ground and not looked likely to enhance his appearance tally.
The question now is, what happens to McCormack now. Could Bruce possibly be forced into putting him in the team next season and burying the hatchet? Whilst they did fall out, he is a proven goalscorer at this level. In an ideal world, the club would move him on, but that looks unlikely given his wages, so the club could look to make the most of him whilst they have him. Big names could depart this summer and potentially propel the former Leeds United striker up the pecking order. Lewis Grabban won’t return following the expiration of his loan from AFC Bournemouth.
