Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce insists that he’d be happy for Tommy Elphick to remain at the club beyond tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline. Yesterday, the club rejected an offer from Sky Bet Championship rivals Sunderland for the former AFC Bournemouth defender.
The 29-year-old has really struggled to make an impact at Villa Park since then-manager Roberto Di Matteo signed him back in June 2016. He has only started 20 league matches since then, but did impress in the recent Carabao Cup victory over Wigan Athletic, however he is well down the pecking order, but Bruce insists he may wish to keep Elphick.
Bruce started with three at the back in the recent draw at Bristol City, prior to the international break, but they lost Chris Samba to injury during that clash. Whilst they determine to extent of the ex-Blackburn Rovers centre back’s injury problem, Bruce may want Elphick to stick around for now.
The experienced manager says that he’d been happy if Elphick remained an Aston Villa player,
“I have got no problem if Tommy doesn’t go out.
“I know he wants to play and he reminded everyone what a good player he is the other night (versus Wigan Athletic).
“It has not gone so well for him here as he would have liked. But if nothing happens before the window closes then I will be delighted to still have someone like Tommy Elphick around.
“He has great leadership skills, he is a very good pro and an excellent lad.”
