Aston Villa must avoid selling Anwar El Ghazi as major news emerges from Bodymoor Heath about Dean Smith's position on the matter.

What's the story?

Reports in recent days have revealed that El Ghazi's teammate, Trezeguet, is set to be out of first-team action for the best part of a year after suffering an ACL injury in the clash against Liverpool.

And now, Football Insider claim that because of the Egyptian's lay-off, he has made a U-turn on El Ghazi's future at the Premier League club.

The report suggests that both Smith and the Villa hierarchy were prepared to cash in on the Dutchman in the summer, but that stance has now been changed given Trezeguet's injury blow.

Dean Smith would be making a mistake

With eight goals in 23 games, El Ghazi certainly has a very impressive goal-scoring record this season in the Premier League, so it beggars belief that Smith wanted to get rid of him.

There's no questioning that he's got the ability to be a real game-changer for the side when he's on song - you only have to look at his back-to-back goals against West Brom and Everton in Villa's last two games to see that.

And, speaking after his goal against Crystal Palace earlier this year, former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown said: "Dean Smith told me his training in how he executes those finishes is there for all to see. Craig Shakespeare then backed him straight up when I ran into him later, he just said ‘what a technician he is.’

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"He’s practising in training, he has a bad week against Burnley: eight shots, great chances, can’t put one away. Then he scores against West Brom, then goes and puts one in the top bins like he did last night… Magnificent is the word we’re all looking for."

Smith must avoid an unforgivable mistake by selling the £9m-rated El Ghazi this summer. And given Trezeguet's injury update now, it would be even more of a foolish blunder on the part of the Villa boss to get rid of him.

Meanwhile, Villa are eyeing a move for this "great leader"...