Aston Villa enjoyed perhaps the best win of their recent history at the weekend.
On a weekend of genuinely crazy results, Villa welcomed Liverpool to Villa Park and promptly thumped the reigning Premier League champions.
Dean Smith’s side won 7-2, embarrassing the Reds and ensuring that they continued their 100% start to the Premier League season.
It was a stunning result, and one that came prior to Monday’s transfer deadline.
Smith has been active in the transfer window, signing the likes of Ollie Watkins, – who scored a hat-trick against the Reds – Bertrand Traore, Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, and Ross Barkley, who also scored against Liverpool.
There have been a number of exits, too, with the likes of Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Matija Sarkic, James Chester, and Borja Baston released on free transfers.
Villa have also confirmed the exit of Orjan Nyland, as they look to trim their squad.
The goalkeeper joined in 2018 and has been a decent servant to the club, making 36 appearances, including seven in the Premier League last season.
However, the signing of Martinez from Arsenal has pushed him further down the pecking order and he has now been moved on.
Villa announced on Monday that they had mutually agreed to terminate the Norway international’s contract, thanking Nyland for “his service to the club”.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
This is a kindness.
Nyland was unlikely to dislodge Martinez, given that the club also have Tom Heaton, Lovre Kalinic, and Jed Steer at the club.
Five goalkeepers is simply too many, so allowing the Norwegian to find himself a new club and potentially play every week makes all the sense in the world.
He is 30 and has plenty of years still in the tank.
Villa moving him on is the best, kindest, thing to do in the circumstances.